The Birmingham Conference has not assembled as we write, but
before these pages are in our readers' hands it will have met and the "leadership question" will have been raised. In all probability, however, a severe moral closure will be applied in regard to all recrimination, and the Conference will content itself with expressing its regret at Sir William Harcourt's resignation, and in thanking him for his past ser- vices to the Liberal party. No attempt will be made to choose a leader. The only vacancy is the leadership in the Commons, and that can, of course, only be filled by a meeting of the Liberal Members in the Lower House. Meantime, the feeling in the country caused by the crisis is very marked. There is a dangerous and ill-advised feeling of exultation among the less responsible part of the Unionists, but the wiser minds are all agreed in regarding the anarchy among their opponents as a most serious evil. At the present moment the country is literally without an alternative Cabinet. That is a grave national misfortune, our political system being based upon the principle that we shall always have a second crew in reserve quite capable of taking charge of the vessel if the acting crew for any reason become in- capable of doing their work. When the reserve crew are engaged in a wild faction-fight the country has lost one of its chief resources in time of peril.
