The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-08-31
HENRY LABOUCHERE.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMOUS
POLITICIAN AND JOURNALIST.

FOItt ISb%N NSNO JOOttTNAItOt.
One of the Phenomenal Figures In Eng
lish Current POlitics-COnstant Expos
ure Of Abuses and Injustice-work as
. Journalist.
Henry Labouchere Is one of the phenom-
enal facts Of English current politics. BE-
heve it Is scarce too much to say that, next to
Mr.. Gladstone, Mr.. Labouchere Is about the
most popular man in England, and it must
be admitted that his popularity Is deserved,
has been fairly won, and rests upon O solid
foundation. He has much more to do with
the control of English politics than you might
imagine, for he and MIR. Cowcn, who are
both in tine confidence Of the Irish members,
have been acting rs go-between recently in
behalf Of the government; Mr.. Cowen with
Mr.. Parnell, Mr. Labouchere with Mr.. Cham
berlain. That Mr.. Labouchere should carry
on negotiations between two prominent pub
lie men is, in moro than one sense, quite fit
ting, for in his youth he was In the diplO-
matte service, and was for some time an at
tache of the British legation at Washington.
There is story told OF him at this period
of his career which indicates his nonchalance
and disposition for joke. A visitor called
one day at the legation to see the British min
lister. ale is not in," said Labouchere.
"Never mind; III take "A seat and wait till no
comes" The visitor was handed a chair, on
which he sat for about an hour, when he be-
came rather FESTIVE and consulted his watch.
"Look here" he said, Il can't wait forever;
how much longer will he befa Well" said
the impudent attache "he left for Canada
this afternoon, and l expect him back in
about six weeks" During his diplomatic
career Laboucherc saw men and cities and
doubtless had many opportunities for OBJ
Il.
EXPOSING ABUSES AND INJUSTICE.
No man of our time has had more varied
knowledge of the world, and it is no wonder
he became somewhat Of n cynic. But there
is no bitterness in his cynicism; it is of gay
and light order Under the outward garb of
cynicism and light raillcry there is, if mis-
take not, n large fund of genuine human
feeling Mr.. Laboucherc's constant exposure
of abuses and injustice, especially in the ad
ministration of the law, Is beyond all praise.
Every faithiess public officer, every stupid or
vindictive magistrate, every unfair judge will
be subjected to his merciless criticism; and his
pen is always ready to support the cause OF
the injured and the weak. He is specially
we're on gluttonous aldermen and on the forces
of bumbleiom and never a week goes by
without some fresh exposure Of these people
III the columns of Truth.
MIR. Laboucherc's intellectual powers and
his progressive views may possibly be traced
tn his Husucnot descent; for he belongs to n
French Protestant family which came To Eng
land after the revocation Of the Esiict Of
Nantes. His uncle was Lord Taunton,
prominent member of the Liberal party some
thirty forty years ago, and IA member of
the Liberal government; so that Mr.. Iabou-
chero, democratic leader, Is a member of an
aristocratic family. Thus, while sympathiz-
ing fully with the aspirations of the people,
he Is sufficiently in touch with the aristocracy
tn know exactly what resistance will be made
tn any proposed reforms and how that resist
ance can hest be- overcome. Though Mr.. La
bouchere was in parliament for n short time
many years ago. his real parliamentary ca
reer may Ire said Ia date from 1880, in which
year he was elected along with Mr.. Bradlaugh
to represent Northampton Previous to that
time Mr.. l.aboucherc had been u good deal Of
society" man, having, l believe, enjoyed
the friendship of the Prince of Wales and
other leaders of fashion and society. He had
also been an amateur financier, in which ca
pacity he had often outwitted some Of the
oldest and keeneSSt hands the stock ex-
change.
HIS WORK As A JOURNALIST
When The World-thc earliest of the $50
ciety" journaE-was founded by Mr.. Ed
mund Yates AMI Mr.. Grenville Murray, Mr.
Labouchere was connected with it, but after
ward founded Truth, an organ which now
enjoys an immense circulation, brings its pro-
prietor n large annual income, and is dis
tinctly the most readable paper In England
a good part of this is written every week by
Mr.. Libouchere himself, and 1t Is wonderful
how he manages to find time for it, us he is
always cool and collected, never hurried or
worried about anything. Truth Is read
mostly by people who detest Mr. l.abouchere's
political opinions. Its arrival is eagerly an
ticipated 10y well-to-do fashionable people In
suburban villas and IN pleasant retreats by
the seaside or III the towns affected by the
wealthy and idle classes. l have actually
seen copy of the unhallowed paper inside a
cathedral ia n provincial town, while its
owner-a welldresscd lady-was listening
placidly To- the afternoon anthem. l think
its proprietor would have relshed the incon-
gruity Of the spectacle. l was in a first-class
carriage on a railway leading out Of London
in which was lady eagerly perusing Truth.
"Xou should not read such paper" said her
husband, a thorough type of the English up
per middle class. "Why notsr Because its
editor is disrcputable man" well, it's
very interesting, and l suppose it doesn't mat
ter who wrote it," replied the lady, she
read on.
In personal appearance Mr.. Labouchere is
of middle height, with hair somewhat tinged
with gray the is IS years old, and with de-
cidcdly intellectual face. He always looks
like man who has tasted all things and
found them vanity; for at times there is a
most melancholy expression on his face, while
at other times a humorous cynicism Is tho
prominent expression. He always wears q
black frock coat buttoned all the way, and
puts one hand in his pocket while speaking
His voice is not very strong, but clear and
good. He has probably consumed more
cigarettes than any other man in England
and he is, strange To say, water drinker.-
London Cor. Boston Advertiser.