New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-07
DEATH OF w. II. SMITH.
SUDDEN END OF THE GOVERNMENT LEADER
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THE QUESTION OF THE SUCCESSION TO THE
LEADERsHIP-sKETcH OF Mr.. SMITHS

London. Oct. 6.-The Right Hon. William Henry
Smith First Lord Of the Treasury Warden OF the
Cnque Ports and the Government leader In the House
Of Commons, who had been i'll for some ume' uicu
this afternoon.
Mr.. smith made favorable progress toward recovery
until yesterday when he became worse and suffered
a great deal of pain, owing to recurrence Oh Eou1
Toward evening" however, he rallied, ana MS con
dition favorable that his attending physician
returned TO London from Walmer Castle, near Deal
the Official residence OF the Lord Warden OF the Oque
Ports, where Mr.. Smith has been seeking to regain
his health since his appointment as successor to the
late Earl Granville. This morning Mr.. smiths con-
dition became critical and he died at 3 p M
MIR. Balfour, Chief Secretary for ireland, VIII sue
coed Mr. Smith Conservative leader III the House Oh
Commons If the influence Of the Carlton CluD ana
the opinion of the Conservative party as whole rule
In the decision 10 be made by Lord salisbury ON the
other hand If the negotiations now pending LO - q
reconstruction OF the Cabinet based on the absorption
OF the LIBERIA! JnIonst are effected, MIR. G0sclen
Chancellor Of the EXchequer, VIII cIal Tue IedueISnP
sir. Gladstone has sent the following message oil
coincidence TO the relatives OF Mr. smith IL have re
ceived with grief the news Of MI Smltn ; uedlli
shall long reialn recollection of his kindly nature
fine qualities and distinguished devotion TO the puOhc
service
The late Leader of the House Of Commons was
one of the tradesmen' who have held portfohoS
in the British Cabinet The statement has often Deeh
made, and will probably now be revived and widely
circulated that he 4" began life" as newsboy IN the
streets of London. Such not the case But IN
boyhood he became a clerk In his fathers ONCE ana
worked his way diligently upward to the mead Oh one
Of the most important business concerns In the UOu
Kingdom. 1t his father William smith, VINO
founded the great news agency. Han century sso'
when the daily papers not received in the north
of England until forty eight hours after their puohca
tion III the metropoIs-when London and Manchester
were that distance OF time apart-all newspapers sem
into Che country were sent through inc P'sVoih0e'
Mr. Smiths ingenuity was exercised to accomplish
something that would save time In the dlsulOuuoh-
that would in fact hasten the delivery TO country
customers of these sheets which acquainted the Word
with contemporary history, and which regulated even
then IL they did not actually manufacture, pubhc
opinion He at length hit upon the idea Of Transporting
the early morning editions TO the early morning colces
The earliest editions Of the paper were Often later
than the times fixed for the departure OF the coaehes
which in many instances could only be caught WIN
much trouble. Smiths drivers, however were IN
styuct.d 10 overtake the coaches and II they failed
On occasions when the news of acute interest or
importance, to continue the journey and deliver the
parcels themselves. on one occasion Ar. smiIh ac
complished a feat worthy of being ranked with the
snartest ever achieved By the ingenuity and extraor
binary enterprises Of the journalistic world when
George " died, Mr. Smith dispatched his express 10
Hoyhead with the papers containing the news. There
he had special boat chartered, and his consignment
of journals delivered in Dublin long IN adVahce
of the kings messenger with the announcement Iact
energy and enterprise of this character coF'Ouuteo
the business which is one of the most
powerful and benefcent monOpoHes In the "oriu
william Henry Smith was born in London III the
wear 1s2b was educated at the Tavistock Grammar
school, and while yet in his bOyhOod was uru.eu
into his fathers business, to the development OF Whoh
his energies were for much Of his life largely devotsd
Before reaching middle age however, lie began TO take
much interest In public affairs Al hrst nc HLiN
Ieanings toward the Liberal party, and 4 pied for
tba pafo Liberal
organization snobbshy rejected him, because he was
in trade wheIeupon he went over to the Con0ervS
lives and they gladly recsived him. At the general
election of 1875 he was the Conservative candldats
for Westminster, the first constituency In the ming
DOM but was defeated by his Liberal rival, J0hh
stuart Mil. Three years later the same men were
again contestants for the seat, aud Smith was
eIected and Mill defeated In harness, Mr Smith
started at the pace he meant 10 maintain. His pas
sion for work was allcOnsuming. lie had not been
in Parliament year before he showed ne ntehoeu 10
I've real working member. Although no orator. he
possessed debating skill He displayed his talents
in this direction during the first session. He fought
the battle of the Thames Embankment for the people
and secured for the citizens of the metropolis, free
from taxes or payment, the land to which they were
entitled lie took much interest III all measures IN
tended To improve the social and industrial condition
Of the people, and especially in Forsters Education
hill AT the general election Of 1874 ne appealed
second time to the Westminster electors ana with
pla PRACTICAL busnesske detness addressed his con
stituents The frnnkness Of his programme, and the
accomplishments of his past returned hun again to
81 Stephens by 0,371 votes. lie was appointed
Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and proved
another Illustration OF Mr.. Disraes success in select
ing his officials.
Mr. Smiths management and discipline in his de-
partment resulted in considerable saving 10 inc
National purse which publicly Acknowledged not
han OF
gentlemen on the Opposition front bench so amiaoy
and so efficiently In fact, did Mr. smith I'LL TINS ONCE
that it was written Of him by an opponent VhA' nc
had payed the way for promotion. which cannot DC
long delayed and which, when It comes VIII NC
satistactory on both sides Of the House. In August
1877. he was appointed First Lord Of the Admiralty
and he performed the functions Of the Office With th'
administrative skill OF which he WIS master. Ills
demeanor I'm the House uniformly courteous ana
his replies 20 inQustivc members In connection Win
the subject Of his department was mo1eis Vi terSec'
and lucidty In the salisbury Government lie was
secretary of state for War from june 1852 to
January 1856 when he succeeded Sir william hart
DvLe as Chief Ilisn Secretary, after his reelection
10 what Is now called the Strand division OK Mddie
sex nv 5645 votes. Dir. smith went 10 lieia' III
charged with On important mission 6u ms DilGi Nse
STnfSI Of the Government on the formation OF
the present Ministry he again to2h Cnee a. 1.soes
for ar bat he dsphyed none Oh MS Iorl'et no
for a reduction in taxation lie would Ic.ll " Nv
cutting down. and Lord h.inGoip ., tS TreaDry and
Mr. smith then became First Loid OF thy 4Leasy .
nodcr ~ the House % Commons In the latter pace
he displayed grea. courtesy, fairness ana aniSo'n'S'
,n6 m, uufallug fund OF sound common seIS' o,
any " sDIth Wa highly popular, personally among
all who knew him REGARDLESS OF political ahlia0ns,
said a London correspondent recently ~PeDpe WHY
A. MOI know the man wonder sometimes wny u y |
MIR " H. smith is 80 universally popular Dll !
i onoritv causes no surprise those VINO do know
lin | NAV mention a fact when viii help u eAPdll
oood deal Toward he close Of last year the prlbCl
paI Of the finance branch OF the Treasury who was Iof
LeveraI years NJ Gadstones chief private secretary
BECAME afflicted with pgaly SIS Of me iegs as seque
YScssprT Tr Hamilton was still unable to walk, ana
fallurc TO return to duty would have nvO'd te 11,a
- half nav on hearing how the case stood MT !
smith ,aered Mr. Hamilton rooms IN his own oihclal
resdence between which and the Ireasury there u /
,t.at cn,v,n,rnicatOu The old Cabinet room Was !
dIecl IN - a,srf for Mr. HamOn's slttng