), in _Annales des Sciences
Politiques_, March, 1906; E. de Noirmont, Les
elections anglaises de janvier 1906; les resultats
generaux in _Questions Diplomatiques et
Coloniales_, March 1, 1906; E. Porritt, Party
Conditions in England, in _Political Science
Quarterly_, June, 1906.]

VI. THE RULE OF THE LIBERALS, 1906-1912 (p. 158)

*165. The Liberal Mandate.*--The Liberal ascendancy, made thus secure by
the elections of 1906, has continued uninterruptedly to the date of
writing (1912), and the years covered by it have been in many respects
the most important in the political history of modern Britain. The
significance of the period arises principally from the vast amount of
social and economic legislation that has been attempted within it. A
considerable portion of this legislation has been successfully carried
through and is now in effect. Some important portions, however, have
failed of eventual adoption, chiefly in consequence of the opposition
of the Unionist majority in the Lords; and a direct outcome of the
series of clashes between the Liberals and the Lords has been the
important constitutional readjustments comprised within the Parliament
Act of 1911 already described. Speaking broadly, the Liberals were
restored to power in 1906 because the nation desired the doing of
certain things which the Unionists seemed unable or disinclined to do.
Most important among these things were: (1) the reduction of public
expenditures and the curbing of national extravagance; (2) the
remission of taxation imposed during the South African war; (3) the
reform of the army; and (4) the undertaking of an extended programme
of social reform, embracing the establishment of old age pensions, the
remedying of unemployment, the regulation of the liquor traffic, and
the liberation of education from ecclesiastical domination. The nation
was solicitous, too, that the system of free trade be maintained
without impairment. To all of these policies, and more, the Liberals
were committed without reserve when they entered office.

*166. The Party's Performance.*--During the years intervening between
the elections of 1906 and those of 1910 the Liberal governments
presided over successively by Mr. Campbell-Bannerman and Mr.
Asquith[226] made honest effort to redeem the election pledges of the
party. They s