St. Paul daily globe., 1891-10-17
He Is Anxious That Some One
Else Should Assume
Smiths Role.
William O'Bpien States His
Position Toward the Dead
Parnell.
Gladstone's Blunder--A Close
Alliance Between France
and Russia.

LONDON, Oct. 15.-The Conservatives
have been prematurely jubiIant over
having escaped the leadership of Mr..
GOScheD. Members of the Carlton club,
after passing pleasant day of excite
ment over the supposed success of their
representations made to Lord Salisbury,
received with shock of disappointment
the statement from Balfour denying
that he had been offered the leadership.
Akers Douglas, Conservative whip,
on being appealed to to explain the
position, especially with view to Mr..
Goschen'S announcement at Cambridge
last night in connection with
Mr.. Balfour and the leader
ship, says Mr.. Goschen spoke
without authority from Lord Sails
bury. His expressions must simply
be taken as personal ac-
acknowledgement of Mr.. Balfour's services.
Mr.. Douglas denies that the premier has
yet definitely offered the vacant post to
any member of the cabinet. He would
not say whether it had been offered to
any one outside the cabinet, meaning
the Marquis of Harrington.
The truth Of the position, aS.known to
the inner official circle. is that Nh Bal
four warts the Marquis of Harrington to
become the leader, with the reversion of
the post to himself. He pleads excessive
work in connection with the Irish local
government bill, which he desires to
pass during his tenure in office as chief
secretary for Ireland.
Fears Coming Defeat.
Behind Mr. Balfours ostensible rea-
sous for not taking the lead of the party
in the house of commons at the present
jGucture, he doubtless is influenced by
feeling of aversion to have his early
period of leadership signalized by the
coming decisive defeat of the party.
No one having even casual contact
with the government ministers can
escape the conviction that forebodings
Of grand disaster at the next general
election fill their minds. Already they
have accepted defeat as inevitable
and talk Of their personal ar
rangementS consequent upon it. Mr..
Goschen knows and appreciates as
well as any one that the government
will soon collapse, and probably. like
Mr.. Balfour, does not care to lead the
party into the valley of humiliation.
Mr.. Balfour would prefer the Marquis
of harrington to take the place. both as
the most plant instrument of Mr..
GoSchen, ready at any time to resign his
functions, and certain before long to go
to the house of lords on the death of his
aged father, the Duke of Devonshire.
The indecision of the Marquis of Sal
lSbury, due to the extreme gravity OF
the internal situation, the diSsenSionS
among the Conservatives and Liberal
Unionists on the eve of the election,
hopelessly damage the position of the
government at the present moment
Salisbury appears to have been
driven back upon Harrington, from
whom he has the specific pledge to as
sumo office if condition of affairs arise
imperiling the coalition. Late tonight
the report prevailed in government
offices that the Marquis of Harrington
had Induced the Marquis of Salisbury
to make a definite offer to Mr.. Goschen
before calling him to take the burden of
responsibilities he had hitherto shlrked.