Why has he succeeded? Simply because he was born to leadership. Without
being profound he is profoundly moving: without studying life he is an
unerring judge of men and moods. Volatile, masterful and above all human
he is at once the most consistent and inconsistent of men.
But it is a new Lloyd George who stepped from unofficial to official
stewardship of England: a Lloyd George with the firebrand out of his
being, purged of bitter revolt, chastened and mellowed by the years of
war ordeal. Out of contact with mighty sacrifice has come a kinship with
the spirit. He is to-day like a man transformed. "England hath need of
him."
There are those who see in the new Lloyd George a Conservative in
evolution. But whatever the political product of this change may be, it
represents the equipment necessary to meet the shock of peace. For peace
will demand a leadership no less vigorous than war.
The lowly lad who dreamed of power amid the Welsh Hills is to-day the
Hope of Empire.
VIII--_From Pedlar to Premier_
The great General who once said that war is the graveyard of reputations
might have added that in its fiery furnace great careers are welded. Out
of the Franco-Prussian conflict emerged the Master Figure of Bismarck:
the Soudan brought forth Kitchener and South Africa Lord Roberts. The
Great Struggle now rending Europe has given Joffre to French history and
up to the time of this writing it has presented to the British Empire no
more striking nor unexpected character than William Morris Hughes, the
battling Prime Minister of Australia--the Unknown who waked up England.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185