The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-27
BALFOUR.

The career of Parnell was a remarkable
illustration Of the rapid passage of an OBJ
scure and hitherto unpromising man 10
position Of commanding political influence
and imperious leadership Parneil, I'M
known, unpopular, unpromising in 1875
became in 1879 the leader of his party. Mr..
Parnell is the most brilliant example Of
rapid rise from obscurity 70 permanent
historical fame that English politics have
known since the days of Charles James
Fox. less notable and yet a re-
markable example of rapid political
growth is that of Arthur James
Balfour. who in FIVE years has passed
from obscurity to the foremost place IN
English public lfe-the leadership of the
house of commentator which he has
been named by his uncle, Lord Salisbury.
Lord Salisbury could safely name his bril-
liant nephew for the succession without
danger OF the charge OF nepotism, for both
parties concede that Balfour is the strong
est man III the cabinet. lie is an able
deDater, and in courage, GOODNESS, and
absolute imperturbabiiity he was a match
sarcasm.
Balfour has been in parliament since he
was 20. entering it in 1874 Two years
younger than Parnell. he entered paria-
ment a year earlier. He reached Office
before ne was 40, serving six years ago as
president of the local government board,
and as Scottish secretary before becoming
Irish secretary. In 1873 he went to Berlin
as his uncle's secretary, and acted for two
years at that time in this capacity. At
IS Mr.. Balfour has been seventeen years in
the house of commons. and today ne is its
leader. Parnell became leader of his party
in 1879, when but 80 years of age, and after
but four years service. but he did not
reach the height of his fame until 1886,
when he won Gladstone to his side.
When Parnell was at the height of his
fame four years ago Balfour was made sec
rotary for Ireland. The new secretary was
then as lightly regarded as was Disraeli in
his young days. when he was rated as
nothing but handsome young dandy,
conspicuous for his love of jewelry and
loud" clothes. Balfour was rich, young,
accomplished. had attended the Berlin
Congress; he dressed well, was esteemed
fairly clever writer, but was reputed to
be too indoent to make much mark in the
world. lie was esteemed q bright man of
polished intellectual tastes, fond of art,
music and literature, but nobody suspected
that underneath his velvet glove of culture
he carried "A hand of iron
He has proved himself a man of infiex-
ible will, energy and courage, with an
amazing capacity for the detail and drudg-
cry of parliamentary business. He has
one sign OF born statesman about him:
he has a capacity for growth In the be-
ginning he governed Ireland with brutal
tyranny, and was the worst hated man
that had represented England in Ireland
since the days of Castlereagh. He is de-
scribed as one of the few EngIishmcn that
ever sent sick political enemy to jall
without conjunction for the act, and vet
he Is the first Irish secretary who ever
passed land bill supported by Irish men,
bers, and has heard himself cheered by
peasantry who once hated him bad enough
to have murdered him at sight.
Balfour is sure to succeed Salisbury as
leader of the English tory party, and if he
continues TO grow, under the teachings Of
events, he may yet live long enough to be
found among the converts to Irish Home
Rule as a safe remedy for Ireland's misery
and misrule.