Wichita eagle., 1886-09-01
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9ai1YR eagle.
HENRY LABOUCHERE.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMOUS
POLITICIAN AND JOURNALIST.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMOUS
POLITICIAN AND JOURNALIST.
sne os the Phenomenal Figures in Eng
fish Current Politics-Constant Expos
ure Of Abuses and Injustice-Work Rs
Journalist.
Henry Labouchere is ono OF the phenon-
'snal facts Of English current politics l be-
ieve it is scarce too much to say that, next 10
Mr. Gladstone, Mr.. Labouchere Is about the
most popular man in England. and 1t must
be admitted that his popularity is deserved,
has been fairly won, and rests upon solid
foundation. He has much more to do with
tho control of English politics than you might
imagine, for be and Mr.. Cowen, who are
both in the confidence of the Irish members,
have been acting as a 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 more than one sense, quite lit
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 a story told of him at this period
of bis career which indicates his nonchalance
and disposition for joke. A visitor called
one day at the legation to see the British min
lister. "He is not in" said Labouchere.
"Never mind; I'll take a seat and wait till he
comes" The visitor was handed a chair, on
which he sat for about an hour, when he be-
camo rather FESTIVE and consulted his watch.
sLook here" he said, IL can't wait forever;
L lazy Vii
the impudent attache, ''he left for Canada
this afternoon, and ! expect him back in
about six weeks" During his diplomatic
career Labouchere saw men and cities, and
doubtless had many opportunities for OBJ
serving the shady side of human character.
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 cynic. But there
is no bitterness in his cynicism; it is of gay
and light order Under the outward garb of
cynicism and light raillery there is, if l mis-
take not, large fund of genuine human
feeling Mr. Labouchere's constant exposure
Of abuses and injustice, especially in the ad-
ministration of the law, is beyond all praise.
Every faithless public officer, every stupid or
vindictive magistrate, every unfair judge will
pen is always ready to support the cause of
tho injured and the weak. He is specially Sc
we're on gluttonous aldermen and on the forces
of bumbledom; and never week goes by
without some fresh exposure of these people
in the columns of Truth.
Mr. Labouchere's intellectual powers and
bis progressive views may possibly be traced
to his Huguenot descent; for he belongs to a
French Protestant family which came to Eng
land after the revocation of the Edict of
Nantes. His uncle was Lord Taunton, a
prominent member of the Liberal party some
thirty or forty years ago, and a member of
tho Liberal government; so that Mr. LabOu-
chere, q democratic leader, is a member of an
aristocratic family Thus, while sympathiz
ing fully with the aspirations of the people,
be is sufficiently in touch with the aristOcracy
to know exactly what resistance will be made
to any proposed reforms and how that resist
ance can best be overcome. Though Mr.. La
bOuchere was in parliament for short time
many years ago. his real parliamentary ca
reer may be said to date from 1880, in which
year he was elected along with MIR. Bradlaugh
to represent Northampton. Previous to that
time Mr.. Labouchere had been coed dealOf
society" man, having. | believe, enjoyed
tho friendship of the Prince of Wales and
other leaders Of fashion and society. He had
also been an amateur fnancier, in which ca
pacity he had often outwitted some Of the
Oldest and keeneSt hands on the stock ex-
change
HIS WORK AS A JOURNALIST.
When The World-the earliest of tn. $50
eiety" journals-was founded by Mr. Ed
mund Yates and Mr. Granville Murray, Mr.
Labouchere was connected with it, but after
ward founded Truth, an organ which now
enjoys an immense circulation, brings its pro-
prietor a large annual income, and is dis
tinctly the most readable paper in England.
A good part of this is written every week by
Mr.. Labouchere himself, and it is wonderful
how he manages to find time for it, as he is
always cool and collected. never hurried or
worried about anything. Truth is read
mostly by people who detest Mr.. Labouchere's
political opinions. Its arrival is eagerly an
ticipated by well-to-do fashionable people in
Suburban villas and in pleasant retreats by
the,seaside or in the towns affected by the
wealthy and idle classes have actually
seen a copy Of the unhallowed paper inside
cathedral in provincial town, while its
owner-a well-dressed lady-waS listening
placidly to the afternoon anthem. l think
its proprietor would have relished the incon-
SiuiSy VI oAiS Sl">SteiS- L was III q AL StNAtaSS
carriage on railway leading out Of London,
in which was lady eagerly perusing Truth
"You should not read such a paper" said her
husband, a thorough type of the English up
per middle class why not" Because its
editor is a disreputable man" "Well, it's
very interesting, and l suppose it doesn't mat
ter who wrote it," replied the lady, as she
read on.
In personal appearance Mr.. Labouchere is
Of middle height, with hair somewhat tinged
with gray (hc is S. years OLD, and with a de-
cidedly intellectual face. He always looks
like a 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 the
prominent expression. He always wears a
black froc.1 coat, buttoned oil 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, a water irinker-
London Cor Boston Advertiser.
Illustrative of the Turkish Law.
A gentleman, formerly a professor in
Roberts college, Constantinople, relates the
following travesty of justice Illustrative of
tho law in Turkey, where an accused man