The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-05
PEERS OF SCOTLAND.
Quite . Number Of Them Rise
Above Mediocrity.

Above Mediocrity.
LORD RosEeERY THE sRAlNlEsT.
The Duke Of Argyle. Lord and Lady
Aberdeen. Earl Of Elgin. Marquis
Of Lorne and Others.
EDINBURGH, March 23.-[Special Core
spondence. 1.-The peeragc of Scotland must
be considered very respectable, and even
estimable body Of men. They are gener-
ally good landlords and useful country
gentlemen, who find sufficient scope for
their talents in the limited field of paro-
chial and county politics. They are, as a
rule. tories of the deepest dye; and when
they bring their influence to bear on par
liamentary elections, as they seldom miss
an opportunity OF doing, it is generally
cast into the tory scale. The drift of the
political sentiment in the peerage Of Scot
land is shown in the fact that the sixteen
representative peers, returned under the
act of union, to serve in the imperial par
AAeAsAShss 0lO AIlsuAloUAy tOIleS W utdu
and the worth of the men thus elected is
shown in the further fact that it is the rare
exception for any one of these representa-
tive peers to make any mark in politics or
in public life. The one exception, at the
present time, which only serves to en-
phasize the rule, is that Of Lord Balfour,
of Burleigh, who is parliamentary secretary
to the Board of Trade, and who has rem
nprSn 80 Oh
man of the educational endowments COM
mission.
On the other hand there is ground for
eighty-four peers of Scotland, excluding
royal peers. there are found round dozen
Of men who as British peers. rise above
mediocrity, while there are four of them
stand unquestionably in the front rank.
1t is doubtful whether England, with its
$50 peers, can show anything like 50 good
record. As long as Scotland contributes
to the public life of the empire such men
as the Duke Of Argyle. the Earl Of Rose
berry, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Ell
gin, the Marquis of Lothian, the Marquis of
Tweeddale aid Lord Reay, she has evil
IDENTIFY no reason to be Respondent
Among Scottish peers at the present
ton in giving the first place to Lord Rose
berry. He is certainly the most popular
Scotsman Of the day. He not only holds
the first place among Scottish politicians,
with the singular and peculiar exception
of Mr.. Gladstone, but he probably stands
first among British liberal statesmen. His
only rivals for the reversions Of the pre-
miership, in the event of Mr.. Gladstone's
removal, are Sir William Harcourt
and John Morley. The fact that he has
two rivals is much in his favor. If he had
only one, in the house of commons, his
chances would be less promising, for it
has become tenet of the Liberal creed
that the future prime ministers on the
Liberal side must, as a rule, sit in the
lower house. Everything else besides his
being member of the house of lords is in
Lord Rosebery's favor. Probably he re-
grets the fact as much as any man. In
the house Of commons he would have
been thoroughly in his element, and he.
has rather contempt for the sleepy re-
spectability of the house of lords. On one
occasion went with him to the general
assembly of the Free Church of Scotland,
on Saturday. There were very few in the
house, and nothing of the slightest inter-
est was going on. The remark he made
was, ssWhy, this is as dull as the house of
lords!" His age is in his favor. He is
still comparatively young man, being
only in his 45th year; and he possesses
Judgment, forethOught and commOn-sense
even beyond his years. He has also had
the experience, and has borne the respon-
sibility, of high Office, having been
foreign secretary in Mr.. Gladstone's last
ministry. Doubts have sometimes been
expressed regarding Lord Rosebery's
hearty sympathy with Mr.. Gladstone in
his Irish policy. These doubts are ground
less. He is thoroughly loyal to Mr.. Glad
stone; none of the ex-premier's followers
are more SO. He gave practical demon
stration of this before 900 people during
Mr.. Gladstone's last visit to Midlothian,
when he took the chair at the corn ex-
change meeting, to which he brought his
two little sons. After Mr.. Gladstone sat
down he led the cheering of the vast null
titude with the greatest emphasis and en-
thusiasm.
But Lord Rosebery is at present under a
heavy cloud of domestic affection, owing
to the death of his wife. That has been
severe blow to him personally, but I'M
doubtedly it has also had q serious effect
on his political position. TO his wife
he owed much in his public capacity.
She was very clever woman. AS judge
of character few could match her. She
despised intrigue and she had no patience
with political schemers; yet she had inn
mense power in the political world, and
large share in the philanthropic efforts of
the best men and women in London, while
her influence was always exerted for good
and noble ends. Their whole life at Dali
meny was always characterized by natural
ness and simplicity. 1t mattered not wheth-
er it was formal and state dinner at which
Mr.. Gladstone and the leading Scottish
Liberals were present. or small and select
party of six or eight persons; there was
always the same absence of restraint and
conventionality. Everyone was made to
feel himself at home. There was no re-
spect of persons. To sit near Mr.. Glad
stone on these occasions was an immense
treat. He told Scotch stories with the
greatest gusto; and no public man of the
last half century could be named about
whom he had not some interesting anec-
dote or Renaissance to relate. On these
occasions Lord Rosebery made an admir-
able host and Lady Rosebery delightful
| hostess. The half-hour spent in the
| library after dinner was always pleasant
time. Lady Rosebery herself sang well,
4