CHAPTER  Vn
The  War  Ministers  .         .         .         .         .         .142

Mr.  Asqthth  :  Bagehot's  Ideal — On  Back  Bench — A  Famous
Cross-examination — Home  Secretary — ' '  The  Revival  of
Civic  Religion  " — Reputation — Attitude  in  Opposition —
Liberal  Imperialist — Manner  in  Debate — Chancellor  of  the
Exchequer — Prime  Minister — Troubled  Peace  Time — One
of  the  Greatest  Parliamentarians — Dexterity — Loyalty  to
Colleagues — Parliamentary  Orator — Spirit  of  Compromise —
Fairness  in  Argvmient — Stock  of  Phrases — The  Great  War —
Its  Early  Stage — The  Coalition — Criticism — Decline  of
Prestige — "  Wait  and  See  " — December,  1916 — Magnanimity
— Evil  Tongues — Defeat — A  Dark  and  Difficult  Adventure —
— Return   to    Parliament — "  Welcome   Home  !  "

Mr.  Lloyd  George  :  Genius — Maiden  Speech — Early  Inde-
pendence— Harcourt's  Advice — Opposition  to  South  African
War — Rebukes  "  C.B." — Mr.  Balfour's  Appreciation —
Corner  Seat — What  Will  He  Be  ? — Place  in  Government —
Stormy  Petrel — The  Notorious  Budget — Limehouse — Shock
to  Conservative  Classes — Social  Programme — The  Agadir
Incident — Land  Campaign — Hooted  in  House — Hopes  of
Adversaries — Oratorical  Spell — Man  of  Action — War  Con-
centration— Prime  Minister — New  Coalition — Picturesque
Appearance — Methods  and  Breakfasts — A  Man  with  an  Eye
— The  New  William  Pitt.  (Parliamentary  triumph  diuing
and  after  war  described  in  later  chapters.)


12  CONTENTS

CIL\PTER  VIII  PAGE

Other  Men  and  Memories 178

I

The  Gladstone  Era

Shout  of  Battle — The  Old  World — Change    of    Reputations.
