Evening journal., 1889-04-15

have been the author of the attacks on
Mr.. Forster's policy, and as they were
supposed TO have been inspired by Mr.
Chamberlain the formers entrance into
parliament was watched with great in
terest The first impression he created
was not favorable, owing to a delivery
which want of practice in public speak
ing had left detectives but the matter of
what he said soon compelled attention.
and those who had read his books came TO
beasmuch interested ia his speech as they
had been in his writing. His adhesion
10 Mr.. Gladstones home rule policy could
surprise no one who was acquainted with
his earlier views about Ireland.
-
II Is now some ten years since~I first
made the acquaintance of Mr.. Morley.
He was then living at Berkeley Lodge,
Putney, a western suburb of London. He |
had invited me there 20 luncheon, and |
the conversation turned on parliament |
ary affairs, of which / had then five |
years personal experience as a member |
of the house. remember hequestioned |
me particularly as to the position and |
prospects of certain prominent members, |
not vet in the front rank, and wound up
by propounding series of objections TO
home rule, which he invited me to an
swer. responded to the best Of my abil-
ity, and, at his request, embodied my
answers in an article for The Fortnightly
Review, Of which he was then editor
The article, entitled "Fallacies Concern
ing Home Rule" duly appeared, and /
believe this was the first time that an in
duential English magazine lent its col
umns to the advocacy of what was then
a very unpopular cause in England. Mr.
Morley was born in 1898, so that he has
Just turned 30. He went TO Cheltenham
to school, and afterwards to Lincoln col
| lege. Oxford, at neither of which did he,
| like others who have risen, give signs Of
his future greatness. The Union at Ok
ford is debating society in which many
English statesmen first distinguished
Themselves as public speakers, but Mr..
Morley did not shine even here, and when
he came to London TO try his luck
with letters his future was as
uncertain as it could well be.
lie w7ote for The Literary Ga
zette, and eventually for The Satur-
day Review, though, as he has himself
told me, article after article was re-
turned TO him before he discovered what
was suitable and acceptable. He read
law with his friend, Mr.. Frederick Har-
rison, travelled in America 10 study
democratic institutions, and became
editor of The Fortnightly in succession
90 George Henry Lewes. His works on
Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau. on Ed
mund Burke and on Richard Golden,
show his great capacity for what may
be called philosophical biography, but
he attains his highest eminence as q
literary critic, in which character he is
scarcely inferior to Mathew Arnold him.
self. The failing health of Mr.. Ashton
/ | Dixie led to his retirement, in February
0 1888, from the representation of New
T castle-on-Tyne, and Mr.. Morley, after 1
vigorously contested election, was re
turned to parliament for the vacant sent
+ In three years from that time he entere,
n Mr. Gladstone's cabinet, becoming
y right honorable and chief secretary fo
e Ireland, without filing any intermediat
s Office or undergoing any of that officia
l. training in a subordinate department o
II the government which was at one tim
n considered essential to the attainment 0
= high Office. AS his assumption Of offic
/ was simultaneous with, and the resul
!. Of, Mr.. Gladstones adoption Of HON
v rule, he was received in ireland b,
n the popular party with Joyful &C
c clarnation, and his administration hal
= none Of the difficulties 20 encounte
b which have proved insufferable to s
g many English statesmen. The govern
r ment OF which he was a member laste
e only a few months. for the home rul
e bill, which it was formed to carry, wa
= rejected by the house of commons, an
o subsequently by a majority Of the Brit
S ish electorate, SO that MIR. Morley had q
c opportunity Of ehowing his skill as a
c administrator. Of his methods as pol
ticiaa no candid opponent can complain
Ie always fights fair; no striking belo'
the belt, no personal abuse, no calumin
Gus inCcndo, defaces his controversii
style, and, though his doctrines and ser
timents are w1rrnly combatcd by th
opposite party, the devotion Of his ow
ardent followers is fortified by the II
spect and admiration Of his advers9rie
Like every one of the lieutenants Of NJ
Gladstone he is Of course overshadowC
BY his great leader, but his presence
the front rank gives peculiar conddens
to his party as regards their future lea
d ership The newspapers Of all shades
al opinion agreed, with a remarkable a
ie SERGE of professional jealousy, in q
le proving Of Mr.. Morley's elevation
T. cabinet rank. 80
in cannot, perhaps, better conclude I'll
in sketch of the distinguished statesmi
Is, than by quoting the address which
p issued to the electors of Newcastlc-o
OF Tyne, on his appointment TO Office, al
ys which is a model of brevity, simplici
"a and directness:
~ "GENTLENES-The queen has be
u u pleased to approve, on the recommend
VI ton of Mr.. Gladstone, of my appoil
ment to the Office Of chief secretary
III Ireland. regret that this will impo
- upon you the necessity Of a new electid
4S but confidently believe that in accepu
~ a responsible post, in time of pub
lle perplexity. shall have your hearty
q proval and support. ] should have be
ls unworthy of the high spirit of my ce
' stiments if / had shrunk from tas
ll however arduous, which was press
- upon me as a public duty by the illust
~ GUS statesman who is again at the he