St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-16
|YH0WILLB Be leader?
William Henry Smiths Sue
cess0r May Be Secretary
BalfouP.
Lord Salisbury and Balfour
Himself Said TO Oppose
the Idea.
The Condition OF German La
boPePs IS Alleged to Be
Gloomy.
British W0rkmen Also See
Dark Days Ahead--The
Guards.

LONDON. Aug. Notwithstanding
the Improvement in the health Of RI.
Hon.William Henry Smith, the main sub
ject Of conversation at the Conservative
clubs continues to be the reyersiOn Of
the leadership in the house OF commons.
1t is now freely admitted on all hands
that if Mr. Smith does not personally
desire to resume the dificult duties Of
the office when parliament reassembles
he ought not to be pressed TO do so
against his wish. There can be no
doubt whatever that his repeated i'll
ness. if not directly due to the pressure
of work and responsibility. has been
seriously aggravated IN this way, and
that it would be sheer cruelty to urge
him to remain at his post II he does not
feel himself capable OF DONG 50 With
cut risk But the more the QG9S
ton as to who should be his success
SUr IS discussed the gT3Ver lis dIf1lcdl-
ties seem. Contrary TO tue general idea,
it is stated in quarters very likely to
know accurately what Mr. BalIOur's
views on this point are. that, 50 Tar as
the present parliament is concerned.
tie irish secretary himself does not
wish Tor the leadership. seeing how lit
Tie prospect there is of making repu-
1atiCn I'm The last few months Of an eX-
haUsteG parliament. Besides he wishes
10 complete his Irish pOllcy-if events
should enable it to be com Dieted-be-
fore leaving the Irish. 1t is recognized
ON all hands that if the result of the
general election is to put the Conserva-
lives into opposition Nj. Baifour viii be
The Only Possible Leader.
1t also learned on excellent author
lily that Lord Salisbury himself IS any
thing but enthusiastic about Nj. Bal
fOur's acceptance of the leadership.
The prime minister sees clearly enough
that a somewhat inyidiOus state OF
things viii be created by having the
uncle leading in one house and the
nephew leading in the Othe., an ar
rangement which viii lend itself to
good deal of malicious comment. SO
FAR as the present parliament, at all
events, is concerned. Right Hon.
George j. GOschen might con-
tinUe to lead with the full approval
both OF the prime minister and the irish
secretary. But the more the matter IS
discussed the palmer it becomes that
large body OF the rank and hle OF the
Conservative party will refuse 10 be
permanently led by any Liberal Union
iSt, and viii object to be so led up 10
The general election. On the other
hand. the [ uiOnist members OF parlla-
ment are emphatic in urging Mr..
Goschen's claims on the ground of his
greater age and experience. and they
would certainly take very badly any ar
raHgemeut which would make him
subordinate 10 a younger man. The
position is altogether a most cOmDli-
Gated one. Some Of the Conservatives
are beginning to revive the idea that in
case of need Sir Michael Hicks Beach
might take the post for time. But Sir
Michael remembers keenly the treat
ment which he received at the hands Of
his party some years ago. and his per-
sonal unaUproachabilty would render
him anything but q popular leader. The
chances seem TO be that matters will be
kept on as they are for time, MI.
Goschen leading as NJ. Smiths deputy,
and the question of future leadership
being left open as long as possible.