New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-02
LEADING TOPICS IN LONDON.

LEADING TOPICS IN LONDON
pow RIVAL CLAIMS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED IN
THE NEW M1NIsTRY-MoRE LIGHT ON THE AP-
po,xrMrNr OF SIR CHARLES DILKE-THE
SPRING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY
AND THE GRosvENoR GALLERY.
GBY CABLE TO THE TRlBUNE.l
LONDON, Saturday, May l, 1880.
Cabinet making occupied the public mind
throughout the week. Upon Mr.. Gladstones ac-
ceptance of the Premiership powerful influences
wepe brought to bear, endeavOring to secure
Wing preponde1ance in the subordinate oinceS'
This effort was at one time completely SUCCESSFUL
Nearly all the most important posts were success
sively offered and accepted by members OF Mr'
Gladstones former Government. Earl Granville
and Lord Harrington necessarily and properly had
+be choice of portfolios. The next appointments
those of Mr. Childers and Lord Northbrook proved
Mr.. Gladstone's determination to place trleu
economists at the head of, the great dlsburs-
ing departments Lord Selbornes nom
ination for the Lord Chancellorship. though
inevitable. further reinforced the conservative
wing Mr.. Forsters acceptance of the Irish Secre-
tarvship. with q seat in the Cabinet though an
admirable appointment and involving the sacrifice
of his legitimate pretensOns to higher tituar rank
did not diminish the Moderates majority IN the
Cabinet, Mr. Forster having, since 1870, ceaSed 10
represent any section of the advanced Liberals
Mfr BRIGHT. as Chancellor of tie Duchy OF Lancas-
fer. only resumes his old position Adding the
Lord President of the Council, the Lord of the
Priyy Seal-necessarily destined for peers-adding
also Sir William HarcOurt and Lord Kimberley TO
those already appointed, the Cabinet on Sunday
last though incomplete, contained already the
elements of indisputable supremacy on the side OF
the Moderates. The Radicals still expected that
Mr.. Gladstone would recognize, though inadequate
IL. the inst claims of that section by naming Sir
Charles Dixie or Mr.. Chamberlain for Cabinet
Office When it became known that he had offered
Sir Charles Dixie the Under-Secretaryship, and
MIR. Chamberlain nothing, the crisis reached
climax.
SIR CHARLES DIXIE REsoLUTE.
Sir Charles Dixie politely but peremDtorily de-
olined the appointment. Mr.. Gladstone urged him
TO take twenty-four hours to consider the matter.
Sir Charles Dixie on Monday noon delivered the
Radical ultimatum. Abstaning wholly from press
ing his own personal claims, be refused absolutely
to accept subordinate post outside Cabinet con-
tanning no representative of the Radical wing OF
the party and assured Mr. Gladstone that he and
Mr.. Chamberlain were acting in concert, and rep
resented In this affair ali that important body OF
Liberals, below the gangway, which during the
past six years had steadily gained Importance. and
during the elections had contributed essentially to
the Liberal victory. Mr.. Gladstone in turn took
twenty-four hours to consider After numerous
consultations the Wings saw the necessity OF YIELD
ing. and OH Tuesday noon Mr.. Gladstone informed
SIR Charles Dixie that he accepted lis terms, and
would make Mr. Chamberlain President of the
BOARD of Trade provided Sir Charles Dixie took the
Under-Secrctaryship for Foreign Affairs. Sir
Charles Dixie instantly agreed, and Mi. Chamber
lain was thereupon summoned, and accepted
the proposal The two days deadlock was
Tins terminated 1t is still imperfectly un.
derstood why Mr. Gladstone preferred Mr.. Cham
berlain over Sir Charles Dixie fer the Cabinet.
Sir Charles Dilke's position in the party is higher
his parliamentary experience longer, and his popu-
laritv in the House of Commons and public rcputa-
ton much greater The press and pnbiic opinion
ever since the Liberal victory pointed to the ap-
poiptment of Dixie to place in the Cabinet as
inevitable If he had chosen to insist on his per-
sonal claims he could undoubtedly have been one
Of the Ministers but he stands perhaps higher than
ifbe were co. having the entire credit OF making
Mfr. Chamberlain Minister. thereby securing a
spokesman for the advanced Liberals inside the
Cabinet. while holding himself the most important
of all the outside offices as he will represent the
roreign oaice in tue House Of Commons. He can
afford to wait, meantime acquiring invaluable cx-
periepoe.
e.. THE RADICALS PLEASED.
Mr.. Chamberlain's appointment. except from
taking precedence Of Sir Charles Dixie, is re-
ccgnized as excellent; Dixie himself is perfectly
contented The Government is now sufficiently rep-
resentative of all the important sections, though
there arc some iuexplicable omissions Of in
6lvidnals especially of Mr. Stansfcld. whose
preyious administration Of the Local Government
Board was of marked efficiency.
SOME DISSATISFACTION EvINCED.
The distribution of certain Offices is less satis-
factory thaa the general composition OF the Cabi-
net. The Liberals generally desired Lord Harting-
Con In the Foreign Office, Sir William HarcOuTt in
the War Department, and Mr.. Chders in the Board
Of Trade with Mr. Fawcett inside the Cabinet 1t
;s reported that Mr.. Gladstone would have offered
Mr.. Fawcctt Cabinet place but for his blindness.
He told Mr.. Fawcett tnat he had made him Post
master. General, hoping that departmental work
wonld not prevent his continuing to give attention
a. .r,,, oer,,-s Sir william Harcourts expected