New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-27
TIE BPTTISH C1BINET.

It has not been easy for Mr. Gladstone to form
the new Cabinet. With the strongest men in
English public life to choose from, it was in his
power to enlist for the Queens service council
equal in administrative ability to that famous
Ministry Of All the Abilities" in which he
himself, Lord Palmerston and Lord John Rus
sell once served under the leadership of Lord
Aberdeen. Theoretically, the only way to
make o Cabinet Is to put the best men in the
right places but, practically, Ministries are
never 30 formed. The leaders whose presence
in office is necessary are virtually allowed to
choose their own places; and the vacancies are
filed after the political clams Of every section
of the party have been closely studied. In the
present instance the two leaders who had pre-
viOusly been summoned to Windsor were given
the most conspicuous places
Lord Granville naturally chose the Foreign
Secretaryship, for which his experience in two
previous Ministries and an active career of
forty -four years had amply qualified him. 1t is
an appointment viii will be regarded with
satisfaction in the United States where his con-
sistcnt and upright course in relation to the
Treaty of Washington and the Geneva arbitra-
ton has not been forgotten. English COnserya-
tives have fallen into the habit of referring to
the award as proof that the Liberal Govern
ment preferred paying to fighting. Lord Gran
vile has never apolOgized for the course taken
by himself and his colleagues in that interna
tiOnal settlement. Only n few weeks ago he
spoke of it as one of the browning acts OF Alr.
Gladstone's administration, and expressed the
belief that the Treaty of Washington had been
the cause Of such good feeling between the two
couuelies as had not been known since the
Declaration Of Independence. This is true
enough, and that cOrdality between the two
English-speabing nations will be promoted by
the return of Lord Granville to the Foreign
Office, where Lord Salisbury has needlessly ir-
ritated Americans by his correspondence in re-
latiOn to the Fisheries clause and the Fortune
Bay Outrages.
The other appointment has less interest for
Americans. Lord Harrington could not return
TO the War Office without sacrificing his dignity,
for he had held that Office before he became
leader of the Opposition in tho Commons. As
Mr.. Gladstone has reserved for himself the
Chancelorshlp Of the Exchequer, the choice lay
between the Home and India Secretaryships,
and for obvious reasons Lord Harrington has
taken the latter. The settlement of the Afghan
complication is the first duty which will devolve
upon the new Government, and it will require
tact and judgment. Within q week great
victory has gwen the British forces control Of
the only fortress in Eastern Afghanisan which
was not already theirs ;yyet owing to the diff
Guilty of settling the succession to the throne
and of organizing q stable government-one
which will not go down the moment the British
garrison leaves the capitalize pacifcatiOn Of
the country is q complex problem. The forces
can neither advance with safety, withdraw with
honor, nor remain with profit. The whole cam
paign has been an unnecessary blunder-an I'M
profitable crime and like the way of the trans
gressOr, the retreat from Cabul is uncOmmOnly
hard. Under these circumstances the Secre-
taryship for India will be post of honor, for
the debates on the Afghan settlement must be
the most exciting of the early sessions of Paria-
ment.
The principle Of availability is also illus
trated by this appointment. Either Lord
Northbrook or the Duke of Argyll would have
been committed in advance to the policy to
which they themselves had adhered while in
office, and which the BeacOnsfeld administra-
lion had renounced. It is now too late to undo
what has been done, and new man who has
never been connected with Indian affairs will
be more likely to give the country practical
and satisfactory solution of this troublesome
question.