New-York tribune., 1886-07-18
lord HARRINGTON.
WITH SOME NOTES ON HIS POLITICAL
METHODS.

How 10 IL, i near some AInerc1hS asA'sen"'
Lord HARRINGTON. alone. or almost alone, among Lo-
eral Unonists. escapes personal attack Every
other Liberal who has declined to follow Mr.. Glad
stone in his new departure is assailed and assaed
bitterly Mr. Goschen. Sir George Trevelyan, Mr.
Chamberlain Mr. Bright himsef-all are targets
for many shaft shot from he fortress OF their
old friends They are not merely opposed, whicn
nobody would complain of-they are abused ana
in many cases the abuse is of sufficiently savage
kind. Why does Lord Harrington escape'
Well there is one obvious answer Lord Harflng-
ton abuses nobody. He is . man who thihKs IL
possible 70 engage in politics and to oppose ms au
versaries without the help of what Lord beacons-
field called the ornament of debate InvectlVe. NO
body can have heard him or have read him witnous
being struck by this popularity; for. unhappiyl IL
L. a popularity. though he is not alone III IL. 10
treats his opponents the platform or IN the
Houso of Commons as he would treat the party OF
the other part-if may borrow phrase from the
lawyers-in q business controversy. lie aV'aoAs
their principles coutroverts their arguments ano
does not think say that man VINO noi"' Vows
d;farent from his own on Home Rule IS traitor or
q scoundrel, a maniac.
II ia to,erably obvious also that Lord Harrington
vould not care a straw if all these names were De-
stoved on him. Like other members of the Glad
stope Government he prosecuted by the Irish
venieut seasons Occasionally some Tory tried his
preutice hand at drawing" Lord Harrington
have seen this pastime and know no more enter
tanning spectacle. Mr. Heay or Mr. Blggar or
perchance Mr. Callan let loose his budget OF IN
vectiyes on the Secretary for War. Mr. Gorst NAV
have joined in. The storm ragged and sharp
edged missiles few across tho House.
There on the front bench sat the object Of thcm his
legs drawn up and his hat drawn down over his
eyes He might be asleep His impertnroablllty
is 50 complete that watch him as you may you can
not see muscle move or a nerve tyitch. MI. Ois-
raeli used to assume Indifference; he was often
stung by sarcasns and when he came to reply
showed that he had been stung. Bong a consum-
mate comedian his assumption of Indifference an
swered perfectly as long as he kept it mp. His face
wasnot a book wherein men might read the strange
matters be was meditatlng, but mask
Lord Harrington is not comedian ana mas no
occasion to wear mask. His indifference Is not
feicned it is real and he has no need OF the hat
over his eyes wheth as a shield OF a disguise. IL
took our Irish friends some time to md TINS ont.
Cuck witted as they are. they were slow to per-
ce,ve that here was man on whom their 5itterest
taunts and most ferocious vltnpcration made abso-
lutely no impresslon-that he really and truly did
not care what they thought or said One moment
he would hear himself branded as
murderer; the guilty colleague of Lord
Spencer in sending innoccrt men to the
rallows The next he would be answering
question in unmoved tone. don't think he
was even shaken by the delicate innuendoes lev
eled at him as the brother of Lord Frederick Caven-
dish. So after "A while. 1t came to be understood
among the Parnellites that no hing was to be got
by badgerng Lord Harrington, aud they let him
alone.
There are. as 1 said Others among the public
l. bo lin baI,i IO-
lent personalities or from imputng low motives
10 their ant agonists. Mr. Gladstone is one, though
Mr. GladstOnes passionate enthusiasm for the
business in which he has now embarked has led him
10 say some strange things, not IN his usua man
ner But there is absolutely nobody so careless as
Lord Harrington about what is said ot hin. Mr
Gladstone VIGOROUSLY is not. He cannot SIT still
under fire. Old Parliamentary hand as be describes
himself and is. the veriest novice Ia the chamber
is more master of himself under provocation than
Is MIR. Gladstone Anybody can draw HIM; nobody
is too insignificant topic too tiivlal. to be
treated seriously, and often very vehe-
mently. by this Grand Old Man. Lord Hart
ington answers to the description of the
late Mr.. Rufus Choate. He is as cool as a couple
of summer mornings. If he answers he answers
without heat.
Look at the speech Lord Harrington made yes
terday at Cardiff. He went down there in behalf
of Mr.. Brand. Unlonist. who l. contestIng that
borough against Sir Edward Reed. its present
member and Gadstonian. he loCai Gladstonian
paper welcomed him with the remark that moth
ing could be more cOatcmptble
than his coming such mission. Lord
Hartingtou's reply reminds one OF what
Wendell Phillips told Charles Remond when he
called Washington a scOundrel. He SAID the word
was not descriptive. Lord Harrington made
answer to the local Editor that the Unionists were
advocating the opinions held only few months
ago by the whole Liberal party ,and If they had not
been able to change them, they might be wrong or
mistaken but could hardly be described as mean
or contemplate. He attributed no evil motives to
those who unlike himself, had changed but they
might be as forbear'ng as himself. " For IN my
opinion there caa be nothmg cOneilptible in adher-
ing to Opinions which you had deliberately thought
out and on the strength of which you hal recon-
mended yourselves to the constituencies OF your
felow-counfrymen."
Presently be referred to Mr.. Parnc who had
spoken there The day before, and his Welsh audi
ence received the name with groans an hisse&
"No gentlemen" said Lord Harrington. " | see no
reason why sSoali grDan at The name of Mr..
Parnel The Government am sorry to say, have
adopted very great part of Mr. Parnels policy.
and If 1t is to be adopted and recommsnded TO the
people OF the United Kingdom. think it is just as
well 1t should be advocated by its author,
and that English audiences should hear from
the best utboritv what the arguments by
which it can be recommended to them" A sem
tence winch was followed by laughter and cheers
instead of groans Then he went to say that
all Mr. Parnelrs speeches which he ha read
lately sesmed to him to be marked by great deal
of moderation and ability. 1t would be mistake
10 infer from Lord lartington's poiiteness that
his method of dealing with antagonist is
weak lilo strengthens himself by it. and
often bases argument Oh compliment.
He attributes great Importance to Mr.. ParnclPs
declaration that Mr.. Clad d-toncs bill would be
final settlement of Irish claims. But other recent
declar.liinns he reminded bis hearers. were not