New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-22

form of the same purpose and scheme G. W. s.
".
THE CHIEF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CHAMBER
LAIN MR. TREVELYAN, SIR CHARLES dixie.
''"''' ' LONDON. May IL.
II ;s understood that the selection of successor
=, Lord Frederick CavendIsh has perplexed Mr.
Gladstone not q little. Before Lord trederck
was appointed, and after, appeared snhdry
paragraphs in the papers. which the uh"ary
accepted as truthfuly inspired, ntimalng that me
most of Chief Secretary for Ireland had been offered
10 Mr.. Chamberlain. don't know why Mr. Cham
berlain or his friends supposed 1t would DO MT.
Chamberlain credit to be thought TO have declined
,uch an offer Had it been made 1t would
have been proposal TO Mr. Chamberlain to
take charge of his own policy. He had discredited
Mr. Forster's policy he had dscredited Sir. Forster
bebad contributed with all his might to the over
throw of the policy and the retirement OF Mt.
Forster he had hailed the capituaton of last week
ms an acceptance of his own views. why shouid lie
not have hailed the offer of post which, WIN some
risk of failure. would have made hun the agent OF
his own wishes with respect to lrelandf don't
know. do know that no such offer was ever made
70 him and that the paragraphs in question were
purely llusory.
The posf. however was proposed to Sir Charles
clined by him; under circumstances which | Will
describe IN a moment 1t was then offered 10 Mr.
Trevelvan and by him accepted. Mr.. Irevelyan's
name has been received with general favor, The
one thing against him is that Mr.. ParneH and the
rest of the Irish party is reported to approve the
appointment.
Yon all know Mr.. Trevelyan the author of two
of the most delightful books IN modern English
literature The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay
and the Early Life of Charles james Fox are not
only delightful they are sound and sterling pieces
of work III every respect, revealing quanueS ana
literary gifts S. rare and of such excellence as TO
make everybody regret that Mr.. Trevelyan shonld
not bave chosen to devote himself to literature ex-
clusivcy But he has not. He has a passion for
public life and a capacity for it of which he has
given proof in every position he has yet filled lut
these positions have been subordinate and the null
titude of American admirers of his books probably
know little of MI Trevelyan the politician
| should say of him that he is far too good
man to be set to such work as he is likely 10
have to do. The purposes of the Government are
not yet fully disclosed, but it is only too probable
that Mr.. Trevelyau is to be one of the agents OF
policy foredoomed disaster. Not the sole, and
perhaps not the chief agent Lord Spencer is to he
ord lieutenant and Viceroy, it - believed, In
eometbing more than name; TO be something more
than he chief figure pageant or the lnstrumeh III
of routine as Lord COwper was Mr.. Forster was
the real ruler of Ireland subject to the general CON
troll of the Cabinet The Chief Secretary Is
not 10 be- and that among other reasons is why no
man of Cabinet rank Is sent; Lord Spencer retain
ing hls seat in the Cabinet, and taking mp great
part of the authority Mr. Forst has laid down.
What remains of that authority Is enough to put
in use the energies of able man, doubt; and an
oble man will soon make himself felt III a place
which. with all deductions. must remain of great
administrative scope And for administration
MI Trevely an has shown singular aptltudes at
The Admiralty. lie has been Secretary 10
the Admiralty. The Secretary divides with the
First Lord the business and control OF that great
Department. Each rules supreme over ms own do
main Mr. Irevelvan has made himself respected
there; ruled firmly and wisely and cnerge1caly;
earned the high opinion of That powerful stan OF
permanent officials to whom weak political chief
fails easy prey. AT the same TIME nc mas
repre>cntod the Admiralty in the IOuse of
Commons Lord Northbrook being a Peer,
and has strengthened a high Parliamentary reputa-
taton by his mastery of business and power Of lucid
statement in dealing with complex subject He
will have much of the sort of work 10 do III
his new Office lie will be the mOuthpicce OF the
Irish Government. When the hollow truce now eN-
istns breaks up and Mr.. Parnell resumes his true
attitude of impacabe enemy to the Government,
Mr Trevclyan will have to bear the brunt OF such
attacks as Mr Forster has borne these two years
past Tne worst thing that can happen
70 him is to be idcnt fed with
set of ideas about Ireland which
are not his own. Among the risks he must run. is
that of the discredt which will follow the failure
of that set OF IDEAS. There is element OF the I'M
rosslllc IN the task assigned Mr. TTcvelyan. For
the possible part OF II, he has courage, Judgment
patience great power of work, a knowledge OF
affairs and men and a perfect loyalty OF nature
lie is Radical but his Radlcallsm is free
from the sentimental eccentricities which of late
have ironght that faith into disreputo
Mir Trevelyan liked the office he has just relin-
pushed. lie had gone through the drudgery OF
making himself acquainted with its multiianous
business lie would have preferred. think to re-
main where lie was. But be and his friends and
the public were all agreed that he could not refuse
the perilous and arduous place offered hun at a
critical moment BY an embarrassed Prime Minister.
Explanations Of Sir Charles bikes refusal of the
Chief secretaryshp have been published by himself
or bis friends. In brief. they amount to this that
the offer was not accompanied by an offer of place
IN the Cabinet His chief and most constant apollo
cjst in the London press Celebrates this. More
wonld be expected. we told, from Sir Charles
Dixie than from most men. He would be supposed
20 have al Irish policy of his own, but without a
seat in the Cabinet he would have the responsibility
of a man who enters upon office ac-
credited with q policy which he has at the
same time no means of directly sustaining in coun-
Gil" A good many remarks might be made upon
that, but perhaps will be sufficient, which shall
be of an historical kind
When Mr. Gladstone forming his present
Government he offered to Sir Charles Dixie place
which, like this, was outside the Cabinet 1t was
declined upon the ground that Sir Charles and his
Radical associates were not willing to identity