New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-06


has been In public life seventeen years, ana
notwithstanding marked advantages or Social
position has reached his forty -seventh year
without having distinguished himself 1or al
ministrative capacity or political ABILITY why
then, in great crisis in the fortunes OF his
party and in the relations between England
and Ireland is he singled out for this RESPONSE
BILE post?
So unexpected a choice cannot he adequately
explained on political grounds. To the Irish
members and to the Radicals who have been
opposed TO Coercion the appointment is a
startling surprise, for they naturally expected
that one of their own men would be selected
to carry out the new policy of undiluted con-
cesson. 1t looks like a compromise, and
they are not in any mood for that AT
the same time it seems puerlle concession
to the moderate Liberals who have up
held the Governments repressive measures.
The gulf between the old policy and the new
cannot be bridged over by the substitution of
Wing of moderate talent for one of con-
spicuous ability in the Chief-Secretaryship.
The reasons which we conjecture for this sin
gular appointment are personal rather than po-
litical. We are not seeking to defend 1t, but
merely to explain it. Mr.. Gladstone, it seems
to us, has in this way identified himself with
the future administration of Ireland. lie has
not taken one of the leaders of his party He
has chosen one of his subOrdinates, who has
been acting with him in the Treasury admin
istration, as the agent of the Government III
Ireland. He makes the appointment OF
secOnd-rate man to an ONCE OF
the first rank pledge that he holds him
self personally responsible for the new policy
and that it will come under his immediate SUI
pervision. At the same time the Premier
Identifies Lord Harrington with the new de-
parture, for Lord Frederick Cavendish is his
brother. That noblemans influence with the
rank and file of the Liberal party is second only
to the Premiers. and his social prestige, as the
heir to one of the largest land-holding houses
in England, is very great. If Lord llarting-
ton were to desert Mr.. Gladstone in this crisis
or even to show any signs of Impotence or
Indifference, the Ministry would fall TO pieces
The appointment of Cavendish proves that
the abandonment of the Force bills meets with
the hearty concurrence of the Premiers most
influential associate in the Cabinet. Lord Hart
ington's effective reply to Mr. Forsters speech
shows that he has not swcrved from loyalty to
the head of the party. With his aid the Premier
may be enabled to keep his forces together and
to reduce the number of deserters and stray
glers. Without his help, the doom of the pres
ent Ministry would be sealed
In the report of the exciting debate which
followed Mr.. FOrsters speech we find much to
confirm the view which has been presented.
His explanations were evidently received with
extreme GOODNESS on the Liberal side, and by
his own admissions his thirteen colleagues were
pittcd against him on this question. Lord Gran
Vile and Lord Kimberley both of them mod
crate Liberals, had previously denied that
there was any division in the Cabinet, and now
Sir William IIarcOurt, an Old-time Wing, warmly
defended the Governments action 1t was re-
served however, for Lord Harrington to rally
the main body of the Liberals to the Premiers
standard. He declared that it was Mr.. Fors-
ter himself who had furnished the infor-
nation on which the suspects had been
set Free and that the Government would not
have been justified in keeping Mr. Parnell III
prison q single day when it was plain that his
release would promote the administration OF
law. There has been no break in the party as
yet. Apparently the Premier has acted with
deliberatOn i'll this crisis, has exchanged COM
munications with Mr.. Parnell, andis receiving the
unbroken support of the Cabinet. He does
not wish to shirk the responsibility of the new
Irish policy. He makes it peculiarly his own
and in pressing one of the Cavendishes into
his service demonstrates that it meets with
favor, not only among Eighty Radicals and
irresponsible Home Rulers, but is supported
by one of the oldest and richest of the land
holding houses-a house that has large estates
in Ireland, and manages them well. In this
way he brings his own and Lord Hartington's
influence to bear upon the Liberal party in a
desperate effort to prevent a stampede.