New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-05
Mr.. BALFoUR
HIS ALLEGED CYNICISM-HTs MANNER n
DEBATE-HIS EDUCATION IN POLL
TICS-MR. GLADSTONE AND MR.
BALFoUR-HISP POPULARITY.

| BALFOUR-HIS POPULARITY.
London, Octobe, Ar
II there be in fact-it is what the Irish =.
forever alleging against him-anything cypI..,
or coutemptuous in Mr. Balfour, 1t is, think m
tellectual and not emotional or supercilious. y.
| has q clear intelligence, and with IL certsi.
impatience of that sort Of intelligence which |,
| less clear than his own. lie treated Mr. Parnel
with respect; no question about the clearnes q
his intelligence OF that he was man who, 90 "a,
az mental gifts and force OF character went Wa
| entitled TO respect. lie treated the rest Of tn
| Irish with civility This latter attitude did po,
nreyent his saying many plain things to them
| They were said within the strictest limits Of
dccorum and were for that reason the mon
deadly. IL is a secret which none Of the Irsh
eycept Mr.. Parnell has discovered. You might
say of them, or an Irishman might, as Grattan sid
of Cory: There is scarce word they utter which
is not a violation Of the privileges Of the IIouss
The massage is interesting enough TO continue:
But did not call him to order. Why? q
cause the limited talents of some men render d
impossible for them to be severe without being
unparliamcntary, but before / sit down I shau
show him how to be severe and parliamentary
at the same time"
It is not quite in Mr.. Balfour's manner b
announce beforehand that be is going TO Grub
an enemy; he is not Irish he Is Scotch. But
Grattan's menace is one which he has often full
filed He is debatcr who answers to tie
description of Fox, probably the greatest debatss
the House ever saw,-he goes out In all weather.
This Is not comparing him TO Fox; companions
NAV almost always be avoided, and are slmoGt
always misleading Nor Is IL much OF con-
pliment TO say of any man that he reminds u
Of some other man. 1t is enough If he reminds
us NJ himself il he be individual, genuine, and
u real force.
Five wears ago Mr.. Balfour was, like Napoleon
Third. the nephew Of his uncle. To-day 1t is not
mite clear whether the uncle or the nephew b
fine stronger man. Lord Salisbury Is sixty-onA
Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, the chief Of .
great marty. Mr. BalfOur is but forty-three and
his public career may be said 10 dau
from his acceptance Of the Irish Secretaryship
But he lis to-day Leader of the assembly which
little as Lord Salisbury likes it, is the real centre
of political authority in this country. He hA
made himself in these few years what he Is; ono
Of the first three dcbaters in the House. He hA
made Himself master Of the art not only OF debate
but of legislation. His conduct of the Land Pun
chase Bill was probably the most skilful among
some similar exploits because the Land Purchase
Fill WIS one of the most difficult measures ever
submitted to the House. and because Mr.. Balfou
succeeded where Mr.. Gladstone had failed.
His education as debater and legislator aud
master of Parliamentary strategy and tactics had
70 be carried on while he was governing Ireland
and governing it with a success for which there
H. no precedent in these days His duties in Dub
lin were more difficult than his duties IN West
minister He had to meet in Ireland the most
powerful politico-agrarian organization OF modern
times to deal with conspiracy, criminal In par,
and defending O. crime, to which great portion
Of the Irish people were parties He had to meet
in the House of Commons one Of the two or three
greatest Parliamentary leaders OF this century;
the rival of Peel and of Disraei. lie bad been
Mr.. Gladstones pupil and friend. Like everybody
who comes in personal contact with that commando
ing nature, he had felt its influence deeply
People said he would never shake it on. Just a.
Sir Stafford Northcote never shook IT on. bu1
Mr. Balfour is made Of sterner stun than tae
amiabe Devonshire baronet. He broke with NJ.
Gladstone completely. He emancipated hn mind
from the servitude in which the elder statesman
would have kept it. He drew the Necessary d.
tinction between the Gladstone Of other GAYS
whom we all honored and still honor. and ne
Gladstone who took the plunge Of 1886. and whose
moral nature seemed from that moment to sunef
a transformation not less extraordinary than tnas
of his political principles
Mr.. Balfour, like others. had to choose between
an old friendship and the obligations OF puoue
duty. lie chose with no more hesitation than
any man of a generous nature must reel
when such an alternative is put before him
The obligation OF public duty was paramount
it is a tradition of English craftsmanship 'hss
it should be paramount. lie eXposed
Mr. Gladstones perversions and prevarlcations Of
Irish affairs. His speeches on Mltchelstown ana
the even more melancholy Doping incident, anu
Mr. Balfour's replies to them, may serve as sam
pies. Not since Disraeli quilted the House Oh
Commons had Mr.. Gladstone been met IN tnS
spirit or with this firmuess lie hardly Knew
what to make of il. He assumed toward his o"
friend that ali of panied regret for his unaS
errors Which has often proved 30 ef
fective But in this case it was not enecli'e'
Fact and argument were too much for rhetoric,
the truth prevailed the victory in debate reS'ea
with the younger man, and Mr.. Gladstone chansea
his methods.
The Gladstonian idolaters, in the press ana
told you in those days that MI pai'
four insulted' their god. heard the same 'Eins
said of Mr.. Bright, when Mr. Bright refused !"
follow his lifelong friend and leader down 1'
steep grade that led TO the Parnellite camp Ine'
meant, in each case, the same thing. IL was az
- insult" to Mr.. Gladstone to cling to an osa'
ion or a policy after he had abandohed II.
was an insult 10 prove him in the wrong;
state facts when he took refuge in fancies'
rely on evidence rather than on the accuracy "
his emotions. All these offences Mr.. Dalfour c'n'.
mitted and Mr.. Bright before him. To po'n u
them the necessity of breaking with friend VS.
aud to both of them loyalty to tlu'A
and TO reason and to the Union were more 'nAA
sentiment and affection.
Mr.. Balfour gained hold at the same 'i1-
on the people. 1t may be doubted whether ~
greatly cared to. His mind is not Of that o'ae'
which requires the confirmation Of popui,..
majority for the verifcation OF truth. lie wou.'
not think tho Scrnlan the MOUNT