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By Justin McCarthy

Author of "A History of Our Own Times," "The Story of Gladstone's Life," etc.

HENRY CAMPBELL BANNERMAN has but lately come to hold that position in the House of Commons and in the political world which those who knew him well always believed him destined to attain. He is now not merely the nominal leader of the Liberal Opposition in the House of Commons, but he is universally regarded as one of the very small number of men who could possibly be chosen for such a place. Sir William Harcourt and Mr. John Morley are the only Liberal members of the House who could compare with Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman for influence with the Liberal party, the House of Commons, and the general public. Yet the time is not far distant when he was commonly regarded in the House as a somewhat heavy, not to say stolid, man, one of whom nothing better could be said than that he would probably be capable of quiet, steady work in some subordinate department. I remember well that when Campbell-Bannerman was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in 1884, a witty Irish member explained the appointment by the suggestion that Gladstone had made use of Campbell- Bannerman on the principle illustrated by the employment of a sand-bag as part of the defenses of a military fort. Campbell-Bannerman had, in fact, none of the temperament which makes a man anxious to display himself in debate, and whenever, during his earlier years of Parliamentary life, he delivered a speech in the House of Commons, his desire seemed to be to get through the task as quickly as possible and be done with it. He appears to be a man of a naturally reserved habitude, with indeed something of shyness about him, and a decided capacity for silence wherever there is no pressing occasion for speech, whether in public or in private.

Many whom I knew were at one time This forms the eighth of a series of articles on living British statesmen. Subjects already treated are: Mr. Balfour, Lord Salisbury, Mr. John Morley, Mr. Henry Labouchere, Lord Aberdeen, Sir William Harcourt. Other articles will have as their subjects Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, John Redmond, John Burns.

inclined to regard Campbell-Bannerman as a typical specimen of his Scottish compatriots, who are facetiously said to joke with difficulty. As a matter of fact, Campbell-Bannerman has a keen and delightful sense of humor, and can illustrate the weakness of an opponent's case better than some recognized wits could do, by a few happy touches of sarcasm. He is in every sense of the word a strong man, and, like some other strong men, only seemed to know his own strength and to be capable of putting it into action when hard fortune had brought him into political difficulties through which it appeared well-nigh impossible that he could make his way. Schiller's hero declares that it must be night before his star can shine, and although Campbell Bannerman is not quite so poetic and picturesque a figure as Wallenstein, yet I think he might fairly comfort himself by some such encouraging reflection. He had gone through a long and hard-working career in the House of Commons before the world came to know anything of his strength, his judg ment, and his courage. He got his education at the University of Glasgow and afterwards at Trinity College, Cambridge, and he obtained a seat in the House of Commons for a Scottish constituency as a Liberal when he was still but a young man. He has held various offices in Liberal administrations. He was Secretary to the Admiralty in 1882, and was Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland for a short time a little later. There is not much to be said about his Irish administration. He governed the country about as well as any English Minister could have done under such conditions, for this was before Gladstone and the Liberal party had been converted to the principle of Home Rule for Ireland; and, at all events, he made himself agreeable to those Irishmen with whom he came into contact by his unaffected manners and his quiet good humor. When Gladstone took office in 1886, Campbell-Bannerman became Secretary for War, and

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By Justin McCarthy

Author of "A History of Our Own Times," The Story of Gladstone's Life," etc.

IR HENRY CAMPBELL-BAN- inclined to regard Campbell- Bannerman NERMAN has but lately come to as a typical specimen of his Scottish hold that position in the House of compatriots, who are facetiously said to Commons and in the political world which joke with difficulty. As a matter of fact, those who knew him well always believed Campbell-Bannerman has a keen and him destined to attain. He is now not delightful sense of humor, and can illusmerely the nominal leader of the Liberal trate the weakness of an opponent's case Opposition in the House of Commons, but better than some recognized wits could do, he is universally regarded as one of the by a few happy touches of sarcasm. He is very small number of men who could in every sense of the word a strong man, possibly be chosen for such a place. Sir and, like some other strong men, only William Harcourt and Mr. John Morley seemed to know his own strength and to be are the only Liberal members of the capable of putting it into action when hard House who could compare with Sir Henry fortune had brought him into political diffiCampbell-Bannerman for influence with culties through which it appeared well-nigh the Liberal party, the House of Commons, impossible that he could make his way. and the general public. Yet the time is Schiller's hero declares that it must be not far distant when he was commonly night before his star can shine, and regarded in the House as a somewhat although Campbell Bannerman is not quite heavy, not to say stolid, man, one of whom so poetic and picturesque a figure as nothing better could be said than that he Wallenstein, yet I think he might fairly would probably be capable of quiet, steady comfort himself by some such encouragwork in some subordinate department. I ing reflection. He had gone through a remember well that when Campbell-Ban- long and hard-working career in the House nerman was appointed Chief Secretary to of Commons before the world came to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in 1884, a know anything of his strength, his judg witty Irish member explained the appoint- ment, and his courage. He got his edument by the suggestion that Gladstone cation at the University of Glasgow and had made use of Campbell-Bannerman on afterwards at Trinity College, Cambridge, the principle illustrated by the employ- and he obtained a seat in the House of ment of a sand-bag as part of the defenses Commons for a Scottish constituency as a of a military fort. Campbell-Bannerman Liberal when he was still but a young man. had, in fact, none of the temperament He has held various offices in Liberal which makes a man anxious to display administrations. He was Secretary to himself in debate, and whenever, during the Admiralty in 1882, and was Chief his earlier years of Parliamentary life, he Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Iredelivered a speech in the House of Com- land for a short time a little later. There mons, his desire seemed to be to get is not much to be said about his Irish through the task as quickly as possible administration. He governed the counand be done with it. He appears to be a try about as well as any English Minister man of a naturally reserved habitude, with could have done under such conditions, indeed something of shyness about him, for this was before Gladstone and the and a decided capacity for silence wher- Liberal party had been converted to the ever there is no pressing occasion for principle of Home Rule for Ireland; and, speech, whether in public or in private. at all events, he made himself agreeable to those Irishmen with whom he came into contact by his unaffected manners and his quiet good humor. When Gladstone took office in 1886, Campbell-Bannerman became Secretary for War, and

Many whom I knew were at one time This forms the eighth of a series of articles on living British statesmen. Subjects already treated are: Mr. Balfour, Lord Salisbury, Mr. John Morley, Mr. Henry Labouchere, Lord Aberdeen, Sir William Harcourt, Other articles will have as their subjects Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, John Redmond, John Burns.

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