New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-05
NOTES FROM OVER SEA.
THE MARQUIS OF LoRNE-TnE DUKE OF
ARGYLL.
Westminster, September 10.

Westminster, September 10.
After long absence the Marquis OF Lorneu
heart, untrammelled, fondly turns to the House
of Commons, and at the general election he will
attempt to re-enter it, 1t is division Of Brad
ford that is to be thus prospcctively honored,
the Queens son-n-law undertaking to dispossess
Mr.. Shaw Lefeyre, who now sits for the division.
A great deal has happened since Lord Lorne SAT
in the House Of Commons. When, In 1858,
great tide of Liberalism brought in Mr.. Gladstone
with a mandate to disestabish the Irish Church ne
ranged himself under the Liberal banner, the elect
OF Argyshire. His illustrious father was at the
time follower Of Mr.. Gladstone-using the word
in such sense as is possible of application to the
Duke Of Argyll. Now Lord Lorne has joined
what pleases to call itself - the Unionist' party
and will fight central Bradford against the Liberal
candidate This middle-aged young mans LIE, as
far as it has gone, has been not altogether a
happy one. In a prosaic record Of the careers OF
contemporary great men it is with unconscious
humor written of Lord Lorne: The chief event
of his life was his marriage with the Princess
Louise, fourth daughter Of Queen Victoria, on
which occasion he was created a knight OF the
Thistle" That event was, according to the ways
of viewing it, either the making or the unmaKing
of the young Macullum More. The position OF
British subject brought into close family ali-
ance with the reigning sovereign is delicate ana
difficult. 1t must be said to Lord Lornes credis
that he has borne his honors unobtrusivey. lie
is not, for example, nearly such parsonage IN
society or in public affairs as is tie peer who.
the other day, married his wife's niece. That Is
due to the circumstance that the Duke OF fife
is of much stronger individuality than the
MARQUIS of Lorne. No one, for example, would ex-
pect the Duke Of Fife to literally render in verse
the Psalms of David. Yet when few years
ago Lord Lorne miodestly put forth slim volume
containing this work it was accepted by the
critics and the public as very appropriate
offering.
Once the Queens son-in-law had thrust upon
him opportunity which a strong, capable man
would have used to lift himself into the foremost
rank When, in 1873, he was nominated Gov
ernor-G General of the Dominion of Canada he
seemed to have fallen into the very place which
Fortune, in its kindest mood, might hove created
for him. At home he was handicapped by
variety Of subtly expressed but keenly felt
snubs 1t did not please his own order
that he should I've brought within the
narrowest circle that surrounds the Throne lie
had made no mark in the House of Commons. and
outside it had not hit the popular taste, as in
some degree the buffer Duke of Fife has DONE
Nor, il all the tales be true, was he supported
against outside prejudice by brotherly affection
in the family with which he had been graciousy
permitted to ally himself. In Canada he mgho
hope to shine in a armament untroubled by these
portents Something of regal state would pertain
to him, and lifted above the stress of party poll
tics the jealousy Of peers and the petty sights
of royal brothersn-aw, he would enjoy full
opportunity Of showing what was In him.
All this came to pass, with the result that
there proved TO be very little to show. 1t should
Swallowed by the personality of his charming wife,
The loyal Canadians crowded the streets and
flocked to the viceregal court. not to greet tho
Governor-G General, but to pay homage to tho
daughter of the Queen. Still it was better than
life in the English Court In these new and favor-
able circumstances he naturally fell into the posi-
ton OF playing second fiddle, which seems, In
truth to be his natural part In the ORCHESTRA OK
life. When his term Of office In Canada was COM
pleted, he returned TO England and has since been
content to efface himself lie was so utterly
forgotten that people start with surprise whea
they hear his name mentioned as Parliamentary
candidate. Should he fail at Bradford, IL Is easy
=, Imagine tho siea 81 pleased resignation with
which he would return TO obscurity. lie mas no
natural bent toward politics, and shrinks from tho
turmoil Of public life. Perhaps his most strongly
marked tendency is in the direction OF literature.
II he had not been born 10 the heritage OF
Dukedom and il Fortune in Il fash OF malignant
humor had not lured him into royal marriage,
he would have made an excellent subediter OK
q weekly journal, or might even have edltcd
Good Words" One compensation upon which
il would be pleasant, if it were proper, TO dwell.
is the sweet domcsticity Of his married life. lie
hos found at home an unrurlcd haven from the
petty storms agd squalls that assail him with
out. and there he is best qualified 90 shine.
When, il ever, the Marquis of Lorne returns
to Parliament he would find his father occupy
ing very different position from that he hled
when father and son last represented the Macul-
lum Mores in the Legislature. Then the
Duke of Argyll was one of the prnci-
pal members Of the Cabinet and Secretary OF
State for India. Now he has retired TO
back bench, whence he at not unfrequent
intervals rises TO scold the House Of Lords and
deal back-handed blows at his old friend ana
colleague Mr.. Gladstone. Once ranking as a
statesman, he now fills in Parliament the position
OF a sort of coroneted ROebuck. Salisbury peases
him not nor Mr.. Gladstone either. lie sits with
the Liberals and votes with the Conservatives.
A letter has just turned up which has been eagerly
seized upon presenting His Grace In new
light 1t is in reply to a communication addressed
TO him by an American citizen in the year 1876.
Sir" wrote the Duke, with curious economy OF
the alphabet, " 1t wd: be very presumptuous In
me to express any opinion on questions affecting
domestic policy in the U. S. Public men have
enough to do here with the difficulties Of their
own country, without being called upon to form
decisive opinions on those affecting America,
where many of the conditions are very different
That was the difidence of comparative youth
over which the Duke has absolutely triumphed.
There is to-day no subject under the sun upon
which he would think it presumptuous TO express
an opinion.
The Duke of Argyll's failure in public life Is