New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-26
SIR CHARLES dixie.
THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF
HIS CASE.

The scandal, which for a fortnight has been on
every tongue has at last found ITS way into print
with names and some particulars II has been re-
peated with every OF ignorance and OF inven-
ton in nearly every provincial paper In England,
but thus far either anonymously or with Vague
hints at the person implicated. But on SATURDAY..
an evening journal announced that o petition for
divorce had been fled by Mr.. Donald Crawford
against his wife, Virginia Mary. with Sir Charles
Dixie. NJ p, O., correspondent. This morning ap
pears letter from Sir Charles Dixie to the Chair
man of the Liberal Association for the borough OF
Chelsea. which Sir Charles represents In Parlia-
ment. The letter Is to the effect that, though the
charge against the writer Is untrue. he considers 1t
fair to otter the Association an opportunity OF
choosing another candidate II they think best If
his supporters accept this suggestion he will retire
from public life until the imputation on him has
been disproved.
True untrue, the charge against Sir Charles
Dixie Is heavy one, and the effect of 1t cannot but
be, for the time, damaging. One does not need to
be or to have been, an attached friend to him to
sympathIze with him in his present condition. !
should be disposed to assume that verdict
against him will be obtained in the Divorce Court
But the times are such and the position OF Sr
Charles Dixie Is such that the mere accusation
must do him an injury. II IS said. perhaps truly.
that there never was a period when such offences
were Judged more lenlently by society II the de-
PENDANT In this action had to meet tribunal more
formidable than the social world In which he lives,
he might face 1T with light heart. 1t is fortnight
or rather more since London first heard this story.
1t spread as all such tales spread with incredible
rapidity The report became public on the eve of
Goodwood There was plenty Of time to d scuss 1t
before people left town. They disou ssed 1t with
eagerness and In spirit of sincere regret for Sir
CHARLES Dixie. Everybody saw at once how much
harm it might do him. There was. perhaps dis
position In some quarters to assume the truth OF
the rumor. but what one heard all sides was the
expression Of regret at the inevitable publicity.
Society would not hold it's tongue, would not de-
prive itself of the painful pleasure of gossiping
about the matter but even where there was malice
there was little harshness. You know tho tone on
such occasions. The sin and the sinner are
censured lightly. What the world condemns is
being found out, becoming the victim OF circum-
stances which lead to the filing of u petition. III
the world of London had had its way, means OF
hnshing up the scandal would have been found.
The great xiety was to keep it out OF court and
out of the papers. Could that have been done very
door would have been open TO the accused as be-
Fore HIS friends would have stood by him the
world in general would have followed the lead-it
always does-of afew str0ng-wllled men and women
high enough to make their wishes respected. and
to have any other interest than that which attaches
to the many scandals about many other persons OF
consideration which have preceded this in his
torical interest
Ii must DO said, however that Sir Charles Dixie
was badly advised at the beginning. When the
charge was first brought to his knowledge AMI 10
that of one OF his friends, he induced 10 with
draw himself from Pablo duties on the plea Of Ill
ness. IL was given out that no was suffering from
oyerwork. lie abandoned the Bill for the Housing
of tho Poor, which Lord Salisbury had expressly
and publicly and in the most complimentary way
lntrusted to him to carry through the House Com
mons. Paragraphs were inserted in the public
press He left town, and then other paragraphs APP
peared announcing that he was On 4 visit to his
friend Mr. Chamberlain at Highbury near BirminR-
ham The effect OF ali this disastrous. Those
who were most convinced OF hts innocence were
shaken. Those who doubted asked why he did not
behaye like an innocent man; Why he did not stay
in London aud lace the music. Flight has always
seemed presumption of guilt and the retreat oil
Sir Charles Dixie certainly seemed to many like
flight. The widest rumOrs were set anoat winch IL
would be indecent to repeat. The fact that there
WAS not a word of truth IN them did not stand III
the way of their being believed.-it never does
There are few men in.publc life about whom
society would in such circumstances interest itself
more strongly. You have not forgotten that Sir
Charles Dixie was nj one time pretty nearly BAN
lshed from tile more exclusive and fashloua bio cir
Giles OF London. he was mated at Court because OF
his attacks on tho CIVIL Service list OF .ho Queen
Marlborough House, which by no means always
agrees with Windsor Castle. was closed to him.
The prejudice was strong Most people told you
then that socially speaking. he was ruined man.
His exile lasted Tor years. With infinite patience
and tact he made his way back into that social
l. ht.t
rare qualities OF character TO help HIM. There are
not so many clever takers or so many men In Lon
don with genius for society, that society could
afford to Danish sir Charles Dixie. 1t ended III his
r,Dannv all he had lost and much more. lie be-
came one of the most popular ornaments OF LONDON
| drawing rooms. Nobody was seen so often IN SO
many of the best houses Every year strenS thened
his hold and enlarged the conquered territory, M
as 1 said, he reached a position of such brillancy
| that the concern in what Deiel HIM was well nigh
universal in the best world
Yet what Sir Charles Dixie loses socially. II
| things should 20 wrong with him. IL nothing to
what he will lose politically. HIS whole career is
at stake Ii he does not clear hmsei of this charge
he must. as he acknowledges in his published letter.
| withdraw FROM public life These are not the
davs when prohigacy Is pardoned to "a statesman.
Nobody will respect the experience OF several brill.
INIT sinners who might be- named, but whom
will not name because they belong to generation
which. Is but just going out IL anybody could
attempt IL with impunty, IT Is not the man VINO Is
sometimes described us the radical baronet who sits
for Chelsea His supporters belong TO class which
does not understand domestic inhdelitios The
morals of the great majority OF the middle class III
England are Us rigid tho morals OF one sec ton Oh
the upper classes easy No Liberal statesman
can afford to offend the Nonconformiss, ieastofalla
Radical statesman, the close friend and close ally
of Mr.. Chamberlain. The Liberal strength lies In
the provinces, and IT is by no means from the prov
iun.a TINT hnsinesa lows most freely into the