Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-02
HENRY LAB0UCHERE.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMOUS
POLITICIAN AND JOURNALIST.


POLITICIAN AND JOURNALIST.
One Of the Phenomenal Figures in Eng
Iish Current Politics-Constsnt Expos
urs of Abuses and Injustiee-work As
9 Journalist.
Henry Labouchere is one of the phenom-
nal facts Of English current politics. | be
iievs il 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 solid
foundation. He has much more to DO with
the control of English politics than you might
imagine, for he and Mr. Cowen, who are
both in the confidence of the Irish members,
have been acting as go-bctween 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 fit
ting, for in his youth he was in the diplo-
matte service, and WIS for some time an at
tache of the British legation at Washington.
There is a story told OF him at this period
of his career which indicates his nonchalance
and disposition for a joke. \ visitor called
one day at the legation 10 see the British min
lister. "He Is not in,' said LaboucherI,.
"Never mind; I'll take seat and wait till he
comes The visitor was handed a chair, on
which he sat for about an hour, when he be
came rather restive and consulted his watch.
"Look here" )" he said, Il can't wait forever;
how much longer will he bei' We'll" said
the iInpudent 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 hail many opportunities for Oh
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 u cynic. But there
is no bitterness in his cynicism; it is of gay
and light order. Under the outward glrb Of
cynicism and light raillery there is, if | mis-
take not, a large fund Of genuine human
feeling Mr.. Labouchere's constant exposure
of abuses and injustice, especially in the I'D
ministration of the law, is beyond all praise.
Every faithless public officer, every stupid or
vindictive magistrate, every unfair judge will
be subjected to his merciless criticism; and his
Ien 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 bumblelom; and never week goes by
without some fresh exposure of these people
in the columns of Truth
Mr. Labouchere's intellectual powers and
his progressive views may possibly be traced
to his Huguenot descent; for he belongs TO a
French Protestant family which came 10 Eng
land after the revocation of the Eliict of
Nantes His unsle was Lord Taunton, a
prominent member Of the Liberal party some
thirty or forty years ago, and member of
the Liberal government; 50 that Mr.. LabOu-
chere, democratic leader, is member of an
aristocratic family. Thus, while sympathiz-
ing fully with the aspirations of the people,
he is sufficiently in touch with the aristocracy
to know exactly what resistance will he 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 Mr.. BFadlaugh
to represent Northampton. Previous TO that
time Mr. Labouchere had been a good deal of
society" man, having, 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 keenest hands on the stock ex-
change.
HIS woBK AS JOURNALIST.
When The World-the earliest of Me 40
ciety" journals-was founded by Mr. Ed
mund Yates and Mr.. Grenville Murray, Mr..
Iabolchere WAS connected with IL hut aftar
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 IL is wonderful
how he manages to find time for it. AS be 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 peopIe in
suburban villas and In pleasant retreats by
the seaside or in the towns affected by the
wealthy and idle classes / have actually
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