New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-10
LORD SALISBURY.
AS PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MIN
ISTER ROLLED INTO ONE.

hardly he called a debate-which illuminate the
actual working of the Constitution OF 'HlS h1''s-
dom. Lord Salisbury delivered. in fact' hc"
little lecture on the Cabinet, not more IMAM u"
minutes long and to the student or 70 the states
man, or even to the practical politician OF III"
value. word of acknowledgment Is que 10
Lord Stratheden and Campbell 1t was ne VINO
called up the Prime Minister. lhlS Slnsu.
Peer with the singular doube tite' MAKES mum
appearances in the House of LORDS ana i'i'eS
various ouestions. The House is not sufficiently
grateful 10 him for his occasional ln'erVeAloh'
He is not an animated speaker, it Is true nof
remarkable for wisdom; put lie uIa"s 'uO 'N'
wisdom of others.
lie attacked Lord Salisbury for his presump-
zion in holding two great offices at the same time
To the critical mind of Lord Strathcden. II seems
impossible that Lord Salisbury should he both
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, ana 90
his duty in both capacities. There Is s'mc ing
TO I've said for this view, but Lord Strathcaeh
wandered oil into mere cccentricitieS lie uaced
all the domestic difficulties of the moment 20
Lord Salisbury's absorption in Foreign hHanS
lie holds him guilty of the mutny or lnsupoT"lIi"-
ton OF the Grcnader Guards. Nor is he better
so1isGcd with the way in which the business Of
the country abroad is conducted. lie thinks
said Lord Salisbury, quantity, that l am guilty
of the fact that Holsters are not recognize" as
fish; and he thinks that am also guilty OF not
going circuit among the Cabinets OF Europe IN
order to influence the various statesmen al inc
head of affairs in the countries. UnlucKlly,
Jealous press-Lord Ro.ehery would not. in this
instance, call it hcentious-omts TO report with
fitness the speeches delivered by Lord Stratheden
His victim refers to other points, but has n0t
he tells us, enumerated one-tenth part of the
flo q
knowing with accuracy just how wicked Lord
Salisbury really is.
Probably the reply which Lord Salisbury made
was really made TO Mr. Gladstone, who raised
the same question in the House of Commons Oh
the Heligoand debate last week Anything
which Mr.. Gladstone says on any constitutional
question is sure to be of weight, and the passage
in question has peculiar interest. He was
criticising the Government for not having come
10 an understanding with France before cOncud-
ing the agreement with Germany for the revival
of the British protectorate over the dominions
of the Sultan of Zanzbar,-what is left of them
/ quote the whole passage:
am very reluctant 70 dwell upon this point
because negotiations with France are now in prog
rcss But il is rot difficult TO account for the
error when | recolect that in the person OF Lord
Salisbury are united functions which il has never
lecn found possible i'll this country 10 unite, and
from conviction and experience | entertain the
most confident expectations that they Will never
be united again To combine the functions Of
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary OF England
exceeds the power of the human brain unless YOU
can raise from the dead man OF the stupendOuS
powers Of Napoleon. or Of another man, a country
man of ours whose brain was not less than his
] mean Oliver Cromwell Cheers and laughtcrJ
| fear the oyerpressWe of subjects of anxiety
has led difficulty in this particular case,
which, however. | do not wish to cXaggeratc.
Lord Salisbury is not the man to pass over
censure of that kind proceeding from one whose
authority is 50 great rs Mr.. Gladstones nor did
he pass it over Nor did lie defend himself; he
retorted al once upon his opponent. If he lad
said," observed Lord Salisbury. in bis most fin
ished manner, that it was impossible for
man 10 be Prime Mirister Leader of the House
Of Commons, and Foreign Minister as well,
should have absolutely agreed with Lin. There
is no doubt that in is too much for any man;
il would crush even a Napoleon or an Ohver
Cromwell That recalls, ana OF course IS meant
to recall, the fact that from $50 70 1881. Wine
Mr. Gladstone was Prime Minister and Leader
Of the House of Commons, he was also in fact.
and for all the most important purposes. Foreign
Minister also. Earl Granville VS. noWnilIy
Foreign Minister, and did transact the routihe
business which falls to the Let o. the Secretary 81
State for ForclIn Affairs. But II was known
that when a decision was taken Oh vital matters
on Egypt, for example, it was Mr. Gladstone
who took it. Lord salisbury refers 70 this ~
general terms but in language every word Of
which must make his great riy;I vince. The
sentences are among the best in this bret dls-
course:
can imagine Prime Minister-l have heorl
Of such-interierng great urdI WIN INV Co'''u,,
of foreign affairs, hui, II So en- gui'te SUE
that whatever the ability Of the Prime Minister
may have been. hc could Havc done noiAIh9
hui harm. because no good can be done III ~"
MANAGEMENT of complicated affairs when III" same
string is pulled ny two people who are differently
qualified for the duties OF pu!In@ ~ from .Ht
experience. knowledge ana daily inforn"tl"lt
which they possess. | can quite imagine ihai II
Prime Minister thought if his duty to interfere
too much with foreign affairs 1t would cause CON
fusion rather than advantage
Those are tarbed arrows. There is no subject
on which The good Ola istobian shows such sem
sitivcncss as on the conduct OF Foreign Ah'hIe
during Mr. Gladstones second administration
Yet lac must nOw look while rot only u"
Tory Leader but colleague Of the Liberal leader
prOuounces Judgment on this dc-caie matter.
Lord salisbury is reinforced by Lord Granville,
who confirmed in the most express way what
has been 50 often affirmed by those vino had rot
The same means of knowing what went On. lie
answered Lord Salisbury, and y proven
u he convenient to him to say express
" what had happened. IN PlS OWL
cyper;encc lie declared that ne was obliged 10
say from his own experience that Mr.. Gi"ostohe-
he mentioned others also" took the deepest anu
most constant interest in the supervision ol
foreign affairs when Prime Minister. 1t woui'
he difficult TO stronger language. or 70 1'ScH
more directly upon Mr.. Gladstone the responsi-
bility for what was done during those evcnilul
years.
Nobody has written more strongly or more
Justly than YOU have upon the mistakes and dls-
asters of that period. If there were any dou"'
on The point before. you now know. on the
highest possible authority, that they were
cAargeablc directly to Mr.. Gladstone. TO SAY
that the Prime Minister took the dccpcst aud most
constant interest in the supervision of foreign
r.r.ln M.niAicr laA Lis