The curious historian in the future will record that Mr.
Lloyd George's star reached its zenith in February, 1922, and began to decline on March 1st (St. David's Day), the day of his proposed conditional and limited liability resignation. Although from that moment the star began to decline, no change was apparent at first. Now the declension is well marked and rapid. Lord Derby, though a sincere and loyal friend of Mr. Lloyd George, has refused to help the Coalition in a tight place. Ho sees no reason why he should hitch his waggon to a star that is Betting fast. He is perfectly right. Every public consideration forbade him to support Mr. Lloyd George's attempt to break up the Unionist Party in order to satisfy his own interests. Lord Derby stands by the Unionist Centre, and so with Sir George Younger. In doing so he has played a great part. To have brought disunion into the party at this moment might have led to a national disaster. Lord Derby, like Sir George Younger, deserves our warmest gratitude.
