New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-25
LONDON TOPICS.
LORD ROSEBERY-DR. BURTON.


IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
LONDON, Aug. 12-rhe transfer of Mr. L. ii.
Courtney from the Under Secretaryship of the Home
ONCE to the Under SccTctaryship of the Colonies,
III succession to Mr. Grant Duff, now Governor of
Madras, and the appointment of Lord Rosebery IN
Mr.. Courtney's place, considerably strengthen the
Government in both Houses, and elsewhere Tins
remark may have an ungracious sound with refer
ence to Mr.. Grant Duff but it is not really
ungracious, as will presently appear, Mr..
Grant Dutf's abilities and services have been
recognized in n way most acceptable to MN
and to his friends. Mr.. Courtney's tenure OF the
Home Under-Secretaryship has always been under
stood to be temporary, for obvious reason.
Both he and his chief Sir William Harcourt, are i'll
the House of Commons and so the Department was
ovorrcprcsented in one House and not represented
at all in the other Lord Dalhousie was given
charge of such business in the Lords as required %
quasi-olicial spokesman but no such arrangement
can really be adequate to the needs of great De-
partmcnt like the Home Office. 1t had the further
drawback of silencing, or almost silencing, Mr..
Courtney IN the House of Commons. Mr.. Glad
stone takes strict views of discipline,
and one of his views is that junior
or subordinate member of the Government should
not speak except upon the business OF his own
Office, unless specially put up by superior authority
to speak other subject. Mr.. Courtney Is far
too strong to suffer eclipse in this way. lie
ago. lis liberty of speech and of vote on the
Transvaal and other South African questions. He
has had the pleasure of seeing the Transvaal bust
finally settled in accord, or nearly so, with his
convictions. While that was pending the
Government could not have made Under Secretary of
the Colonies man who had cspoused warmly the
cause of people with whom the Colonial office was
at odds Now, Mr. Courtney comes upon the Colonial
scene at the right moment. They say be has shown in
I IA. Ion TO II
si,lions maadv which often sezes men new 10
Office and which is sometimes said to bc peculiarly
dangerous to men who before taking Office have been
peculiarly radical. At least two very recent and
very striking Illustrations of this pathology of pol
tiles might be given /; but forhear.
Lord Roseberys acceptance of the Under Sccrc
taryshlp of the Home Office is an event in politics.
1t is no secret that he has twice il not thrice, re-
fused Office since this Government came into power.
Upon its accession public opinion general and the
very earnest public opinion of Scotland III partcu-
lar. named him Cor place in the Cabinet Wi h
dccacy rare in political lfc-and there are cynical
Englishmen who would say still more surprising in
a Scotchnan-Lord Rosebery declined the post, or
posts, offered him by lIr. Gladstone while forming
his Government. He had been good deal con-,
ccrucd in the Midlothian election, and he would not
allow it to he said that any selfish motive had
stimulated his cXcrions i'll Mr. Gadstone's behalf.
1t would not have en- said by anybody whose say
ings we're worth listening To. or by anybody not
smartiug under defeat Lord Roscbery, however,
could not be turned from his own view, and per-
sisted in his refusal which, there is reason 10 he
licvc, he renewed ~ the time of Lord Transformers
secession from the Government.
The place lie takes is below that which
he might claim, If he were the sort of man to
bc claiming places, and below That to which his ser
vices his capacity, and his position in the Liberal
party cntitle him. But suspect it was urged upon
him for two reasons. Mr.. Gladstone is known TO
consider subordinate departmental service all but
Indispensable part of the education of young
entering public life with the prospect of great
Many of peers get one sort of political
experience by holding seat in the House of Com
mons during their fathers lifetime. Lord Rose
bcry's father died before coming into his Peeragc,
and Lord Rosebery succeeded his grandfather. the
fourth Earl coming of age. so that he never had
a chance of sitting in the Lower House. The want
of acquaintance with the more popular legislative
body would be another r.ason for his
taking subordinate place in the Homo
Office. That is a Department which bring, its chiefs
into closer relation with the Administrative scheme
of English public life than any other.
The second reason is that Lord Roscbcry is the
strongest man in the Liberal party not directly con-
nee ed with the Government. If there were no
other reason for tying him. his leadership of the
Liberal party in Scotland would be- sufficient
thi Of scotch Liberalism would dream of doubt
ing | won't enlarge the point because | cN-
planned al some length not many months ago how IL
has happened that 80 young man Lord Rose
berry tIc is thrty-four) should be the undIsputed
chief of party rich in other able men, and num-
herring in its ranks, to mention else,
distinguished Il veteran as the Duke Of Argyll. IL
is safe 10 say that nothing is now done in Scotch
politics on the Liberal side without consulting
Lord Rosebery. lie has shown himself capable
Of taking Immense pains abOu! political details and
not less capable Of taking broad views of great
affairs: having perhaps in equal degree slGacity to
determine what Ought to he done aud aptitude for
the business necessary to the doing of il. To such
a man, who rs also of the best speakers now to
be heard from platform or in the House of Lords,
the offer of the second place in the Home Office il
certainly no compliment. There il no reason TO
suppose II meant such. 1t was meant to
cure man whom the Government wanted and who
could bring them much moro than they could offer
to him. 1t has, | presume, another handy less inn
pOrtant meaning The Scotch have been in the
habit Of looking to the Lord Advocate for Scotland
as their representatives He il parsonage in his
way, and heretofore has been the mouthpecc of his
people with the central administration The present
Lord Advocate, though good lawyer, is not rcck
a cry has been heard for direct and influential
agent to transact Scotch business. The Scotch, in
Short want n Minister for Scotland, and that is what
Lord Roscbcry in the Home Office will really be. II
cannot be long before hc will be Minister for Eng
land also.
meagre paragraph Of six lines in The Times does
not, az an evening journal reminds us, seem very
sufficient notice of DIR. John Hill Burtons life and
death. But The Times is III these days edited on