The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-28

The Death OF Lord Clarendon.
On Sunday the Earl of Clarendon, Mr.. Glad
stones Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
died at his residence in London. His Lord
ship, as will b. seen from our cable dispatches,
had been seized with illnasa III Fr!!a..ss. Lord
Clarendon was born in January, 1900. He
was thus in his seventy-f year His age
no doubt made him an easy victim to the
malady which carried him off,
When Queen Victoria assembled the throne
of England Lord Clarendon was one of the
many promising statesmen who rallied around
the standard of Lord Melbourne. His train
ing, as well as his natural aptitudes, made him
diplomat rather than parliamentarian.
While yet very young he was employed in the
civil service. In 1888, the year after the
passing of the first Reform bill, we find him at
the Court Of Madrid in the capacity Of pleni-
potentiary. This post be held till 1889, when,
on his return homo, he was made Privy
Councillor. In 1888 he succeeded to the Earl
dom Of Clarendon. Lord Privy Seal and
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under
Lord Melbourne from 1889 to lS41, he became
President of the Board of Trade in 1896 and
in 1847 he went to Ireland in the capacity of
Lord Lieutenant. This post he held until
1852 His rule in Ireland covered the Smith
his administration, while it commended
him to the authorities in London,
made him several enemies in Ireland,
many of whom survive During the pro-
tracted struggle between the Western Powers
and Russia Lord Clarendon held the seals of
the Foreign Office. 1t was his good fortune
to sign the treaty Of peace at Paris in the
spring Of 1856. In 1853 he retired with his
chief, Lord Palmerston. In 1864, when Lord
Palmerston became the second time Prime
Minister Lord Clarendon took Office first as
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, again
becoming Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs in November, 1865. We have known
him now for two years as Mr.. Gladstones
Foreign Secretary. Since the death of Lord
Palmerston it has been the general opinion in
Great Britain that Lord Clarendon was the
only man who thoroughly understood the
foreign relations of The three Kingdoms and
the work of the Foreign Office. With the
exception of Lord Aberdeen and Lord
Pamerston no one has for 80 many years
presided in the Foreign Office. Lord Claren-
don, now that he is no more, will be judged
as great figure in history, and the judgments
will, no doubt, be varied.
We have already said that diplomacy was
the forte of the deceased nobleman. His
knowledge was extensive; his caution was
great; his words on all occasions were few, to
the point and well chosen. He was not one
of those men who think aloud and thus give
the enemy an opportunity. But those quail
ties which fitted him for diplomacy untitled
him for the Senate. He never did, never
would shine as parliamentary leader
In Parliament he was never the equal
of Earl Russell; but Earl Russell could
never approach him in the arts of d.
plomacy. The one man who excelled
them both, and who was equally great as
parliamentary leader and as Minister of
Foreign Affairs, was Lord Palmerston. In his
later years Lord Clarendon has had to do
specially with this country. Oar experience
of him in relation to the Alabama depreda
tons has not raised him in our estimation. It
is true he succeeded to the Foreign Office at
an awkward time. Andy Johnson had been too
anxious and Reverdy Johnson had been too
sweet. Lord Stanley had been led to believe
that the work was practically done, when
Summers great speech awoke the nations. In
Clarendon's time the negotiations have
made no progress He stood too much on the
principles Of the past. 1t was evidently his
opinion to the last that when France and Great
Britain are agreed the world must be at peace
and more or less subject to their dctation.
He could not realize the new conditions under
which the result OF our late war had placed all
the nations He was thirty years too old,
Now that he is gone, and thai there is likeli-
hood of new Minister being sent tG the Court
of st. James, let us hope that old fogy no
tons will no longer obstruct business Peace
to the dead, but prosperity to the living
THE FENIAN TRIALS. General Starr and
two subordinate officers of the Fenian army
which recently invaded few rods of Canada
were arraigned at Canandaigua yesterday for
violation of the neutrality laws, and pleaded
not guilty. A. postponement was demanded,
and the trials were finally fixed for July IL.
If the violation of our neutrality laws is a
crime such men as General Starr and the
other leaders should be punished; and even
if it is only crime on paper, and not in
fact, then they should be punished for mis-.
leading their faithful and enthusiastic fol-
lowers. The privates so far have suffered all
the pains and penalties of an infraction Of
the law. They ran the risks of Canadian cap
ture and endured the hardships of private
soldering. If we intend to enforce the law at
all we must begin at once on the leaders, who
usually gain all the glory Of success and incur
IL a.. Sc IxCo