The national Republican., 1868-12-17
THE NEW ENGLISH MINISTRY.

THE NEW ENGLISH MINISTRY.
Sometime since We gave some notice Of the
life, character ard public services Of Mr..
Gladstone. who now stands at the head Of the
new cabinet. Most Of tho gentlemen who
constitute this ministry have been in the cab |
met before. With John Bright 1t l. different, |
as 1t Is his FIRST appearance in connection with
tho ministry.
There Il some disLppoibtmsnt in this ooun.
try that Mr.. Bright should have been selected
as Secretary for India. It was supposed on
this side Of the Atlantic that M. Bright was
better fitted for a member Of the Board Of
Trade.
Bot in considering Mr.. Brights appoint.
ment as Secretary for India, we must not
lose sight Of the important fact that the pop.
ulation Of British India is four or ave times
larger than that Of Great Britain and ireland.
This will give the distinguished oommoner
great opportunities To improve the condition
and situation Of those people who inhsbit that
far.or country, and 1t will bs understood, also,
that man Of John Brishts power cannot fail
to exert a vast influence upon the Affairs Of
the empire.
1t Is the custom in England, as strange a.
1t may seem, for those who receive cabinet ap.
pointnents to retire from business. That q
commercial nation like Great Britain should
require this Of her ministers, Is anomalous, to
say the least, and II has been affirmed that
Mr.. Bright would not accept the position Of
fered him on this account.
Many people in this country express a sin q.
csre regret that John Stuart Mill, the very
foremost Statesman Of England, should not
have received q portfolio In the new cabinet.
This regret must be even stronger with the
liberal mind on the other side OF tho water.
as 1t Is always less to mankind TO spare such
great minds from the controlling councils Of a
nation. Had Mr.. Mill been returned to Par.
lament, he would, in all probability, have
been selected for place in the cabinet. It
may be regretted, therefore, that Mr.. Mil was
not returned to Parliament.
Earl Russell's position Is rather q novel one.
He is, 10 fact laid on the shelf being q min.
ister without a department. This noblsma n
Is now seventy.six years of age, ha, been long
in public life, and may bo said to belong to
three generations He was q leader in the
reform movement Of 1882, and also partici.
patsd in this Of 1868. This compliment,
therefore, Is due to him, and his counsel will
be Of service to the government.
There are several members Of this new min
istry who are not Of much account and whom
we have neither the time nor the space ever
to name. But there are two or three other,
that wo may name. Among these there /,
one man in whom We Americans have muet
interest, and this Is Earl Clarendon, the For
Ign Secretary. He Is q man Of much diplo.
maoy-more snowy and superficial in bis At.
tainments than profound. He believes 10 Loui,
Napoleon, and also in tho italian Liberals,
and in JEFF Davis He connivsd with the
rebels, and aided their privatcers during our
civil war. and both Mr.. Seward and Min.
istsr Adams found him a sly and rather q
tough customer. This Is the man with whom
Mr. Reverdy johnson is to negotiate In 70.
spect to the Alabama claims. Earl Clarendon
Is sixty.eight years Of age and 10 the fashion.
able circles Of London society, Is called the
"Oh Beau"
The new Chancellor Of the Bxchequer 10 Mr..
Lowe. He Is 6ity-seven years Of ago, fns
scholar, q brilliant orator, and can, when he
"hooses, command q volume of satire, with
which he overwhelms his opponents. 1t Is
said there is only one man who is his superior
in this regard, and he Is Disraeli. It is said
that Mr.. Lowe was made member of the new
ministry because he would be more dangerou,
outside than in.
We might mention the Duke Of Argyle and
MIR. Goshen, and one or two others. who hold
important positions In tho Cabinet, but have
not tho space, and must therefore omit tc
notice this new ministry to a greater length
this morning.