New-York tribune., 1890-06-01
LORD HARRINGTON.
AS GUEST AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE, 40
STATESMAN, AS ORATOR AND AZ
LORD HARRINGTON.
Inrdnn- MnN Il.

virtue. Let MS 90 back ten years OF n'''
more and imagine the asionishmeh' 'h'I "o'''
have followed upon the announcement, oi "',
auct to Lord Harrington with MI 'h'"i"ci' '''',
in the chair Mr. Chamberlain was then In GOO"
and regular standing a. a radical memper Oh '"'
Liberal uarty Nh Gladstone was rehearslhS d'
Uawardcn the part of Achilles before Troy
Lord Harrington was IN command, anu "'
s,rident voice of Mr. Chamberlain was heard one
oy.ninc in the House of Commons referring to
him as the late leader of the Liberal party.
Came down six or seven wears later. down to the
n.riod Of "ransom" and Of the unauthorized
programme" and the same voice is heard oe-
riding his present hero rs Rip van "lhNe'
But on Wednesday night matters have SO iai
advanced that the late leader OF 1875 ana
the Rip Van Wrinkle of 1855 is described pS the
same Mr. Chamberlain as holding "a Unique ana
proud place in our political history III might
he indscreet 10 ask what has happened III the
interval or to let mere Renaissance lead us ihlo
comparisons or into comment. But TINS may DC
said, that the homage now offered by the mem
her for Birmingham TO Lord harrington IN
nresses the general opinion of the reasonable men
Of all parties and of no party. In spite oi' al"
perhaps sometimes because of. the attacks upon
him from whatever quarter, he has steadily "u-
vanced in position and in reputation. Ana IL
is no,y Mr. Chamberlain who says of him. ana
saws truly that no man has ever received III
larger degree that National confidence when Is
reposed in sound Judgment and true pafl"'lsii.
What is the secret of this all 0ut unNeis'l
confidence in Lord Harrington? There Is ho "n'
secret. or none unless you are content 10 Ut
scribe il as character: which does not DrihE us
much nearer to n solution of the pu2ze. p"'
this also may be said that Lord harrington
has been little more than thirty-thrce years III
public life. and never during that long perio"
has been suspected of doing any public act from
any but public motive His diSinterestedheSs
was recognized before his abilities were under
stood II WAS known. indeed, that he had
ability of the kind which enables man to pur-
sue a political career and to administer great
office He was Secretary of War so long ago as
1866 and has been Postmastcr-Gencral lrish
Secretary Secretary of State for India, ana thch
nj the head of the War Office. lie has led the
Liberal party-lcd II for five years while III
opposition to Lord Beaconsiied, and led IL eA-
tremely well All this implies very considerable
capacity. hut all might have been done without
more remarkable gifts than the one possessed py
many men in public life. and by many men III
great business enterprises. Beside. he haG hone
of the snowy qualities which in these days eau
so often TO an overestlmatc of mans ea power
in affairs. In the earlier part of his career he
and only spoke because he must II was very
laborious TO him, and to his audiences lie I'M
proved slowly. and not perhaps till within the
last few wears has been at his best. Ills
speechcs are now good examples of lucid state
ment, of good sense. Of connected argument ol
sincerity: and they have that elevation OF tone
which only comes from elevation OF character
But the speeches listened TO and read be
cause they are his; his place in the country Is
quite independent of his Oratory. The EheHsh
people have learned 10 think of him as a man
whose integrity is beyond question; whose con-
victons are his own and are not marketable nor
to be abandoned because they are no longer
somebody's else: who has clear views and sober
Judgment: and who has proved his unselfsh-
ness by acts which convince the ducst or the
most critical Not TO many men has it been
given twice 10 refuse TO be Prime Minister. The
public." said a distinguished Englishman. 81 know
very well that Lord Harrington is honest, but he
has never vet had all the credit he deserves for
ability, or for political sagacity, and power OF
leadership
There" said a very great Duke once TO "A very
young lady 10 whom he was showing his house,
there is the room where | sit all day long and
earn nv living by writing cheques" II was both
Jest and earnest \ great nobeman, any great
landowner, almost any of the men whom Mr.
on the platform-dcscribed men who toll not
neither do they spin, is of the hardest worked
men in the Kingdom Lord Harrington is still
what he has been all his life Heir Apparent 10
tie Dukedom of DcvOnshire. But his life has
been burdened with duties hardly less imperative
and hardly less wearisOme than those which appcr
tain TO the actual possession Of property and title
What he cared for most al time was perhaps
Newmarket; a word which to the ear Of those
most accustomed 10 il means more than racing
There is a social life at Newmarket which, if not
continuous fills considerable portion Of the
year, and fills it in a way far otherwise enjoyable
than the crowded drawing-roOms and often Still
more crowded dining rooms Of Mayfair. Lord
Harrington has owned racehorses and had a house
at Newmarket, and been as constant in his attend
ance upon the functions of that fascinating spot
as circumstances would permit. But circum-
stances have often forbidden, and many time
he has been Shaving in the thick air Of Downing
Street when he would have liked to inhale the
breezes that blow across the Cambrdgeshire
heath. Not great hardship? Possibly not, and
possibly it seems less 10 him who born into
the drudgery Of desk in Wall Street than to
one Of those " idlers" whom Mr.. John Burns holds
up 10 the execration Of a hundred Thousand Eng
lish artisans, hard at work listening TO speeches
of Sunday in Hyde Park But it is to be said,
and said seriously, that few men toll harder than
those who earn their living like the Duke above
referred 10, or like Lord Harrington himself
Early this year Lord Harrington was very ill.,
and when he was able 10 travel was sent abroad.
II was on his return and his recovery that this
dinner was given him, when some | 90 ladies
and gentlemen sat at meat together. They be-
longed, doubt in great part TO the Glasses.
There were Dukes and Duchesses and many orna-
mental personages, whose place is among those
privileged and titled sections of society which
as we have all heard, no American can look with
out adherence. However, matters are ordered
in this country that rank does not III all cases
deprive its possesSor OF the esteem and respect
Of his felow-sGbjects Rank or no rank this
was a company of men and women of whose good
will any man might DC proud The compliment