New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
FORMING A NEW MINISTRY.
Mr. GIADSTONES TINE OF SLEEPLESS,
NEss-LORD RANDOLPH AND THE "OLD
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND DIS
APPOINTMENT
Westminster. August 10.


i.ss endowments of Sancho Panza, inasmuch as
h. hu. great faculty for sleep. 1t goes long
vav 70 explain that sustained vitality and power
of work that Is the marvel OF mankind. After
the most exciting debate in the House OF Com-
MONS or at crises OF international importance he
has scarcely laid his head on his pillow before
be IL asleep lie does not habitnally get more
than seven hours sleep. but would like eight
and admits he could very well do with nine
Il Is his custom when NJ retires 10 rest to take
IN for O brief time some hook Of light literature
by choice novel. and divert his thoughts
nom current events before seeking his rest, a
device that rarely fails. During the Midlothian
campaign, when politicians and statesmen sat up
far into the night to hear the latest reports OF the
polls the man who had the kcencst personal
interest in the result went of TO bed at his &C
customed hour and soundly slept. When. two
years ago, he paid visit to Midlothian, and there
was sickness and trouble at D0mcny, he contrary
to his custom stayed in England putting mp
at the house Of q former Lord Advocate There
was, at that time, in progress of those bye
elections which when they Glanced 10 go AGAINST
them Mlristerialists stoutly declined TO accept
os indicative Of the current of public opinion.
1t was Lancashire seat that was con-
tested Tory stronghold that seemed
impregnable. But il fell before the attack of the
liberal candidate. The news did not reach Edin-
burgh till o'clock in the morning, and was 30
unexpectedly glorious that posse OF local Lib
ersA, picturinc 10 themselves Mr. Gladstonc's ann
iously sitting up to await the news, set forth to
communicate it, They knocked up in the dead
Of the night Mr. Gladstone's anxious host and
were amazed to he hustled of with the news
that Mr.. Gladstone had long been TRANQUILITY
asleep and must rot any account be disturbed
! have heard Mr.. Gladstone say that the only
time when sleep fails him is the period dur
ing which he is engaged in forming an Admins
tratlon That ordeal falls upon him now. and
presses with, perhaps, more than average severity
1t would be comparatively easy If he had before
him clean sheet Of paper, and were able TO write
upon it tie names Of the men best qualified to
serve the country, and were able TO assign TO each
his particular post. with full assurance that the
selection would cause neithor disappointment to
the recipient. nor heartburnng among others
That in an ideal case beyond the power Of frali
sation. Tie fact that Mr.. Gladstone is now en-
gagged upon forming his fourth Administration is
Of itself Ii damaging, almost fatal consideration.
Since 1868 he has dragged the endless chain Of
personal associa tions and persistent claims. There
is in the human breast q deeply seated and not
illogical conviction that when man has had
place found for him in Administration he
has right to look for provision in any that may
succeed it, A Prime Minister is always hampered
with fosslizcd rcnais There is not given to
every man the temperament and the opportunity
which enabled Lord Randolph Churchill in
1886, TO perform the greatest service ever done
to o party. With the Conservatives even more
than the Liberals, the influence Of Tite BarnaclisIn
prevails. More with one party than with another
is the claim for preferment of the younger sons
Of dukes and the eldest sons of marquises recog-
nized by the Prime Minister. 1t would be in-
vidious and is unnecessary, TO mention names
But there two noble families whose
scions are, as q matter Of course provided with
Office and emolument whenever a Conservative
Government Il formed Lord Randolph Churchill
made il condition Of his taking a leading part
in the Government Of 1886 that sweep should
be made Of what he irreverently called 1.-THE Old
gang" Lord Salisbury with whom the adhesion
Of his young friend was at the time indispensable,
yielded, and some mddle-agcd and some elderly
gentlemen. looking forward as q matter Of
course, to their usual share in the apportcnment
Of loavcs and fishes, learned to their Arrangement
that there was nothing for them.
Lord Randolph made a pretty clean sweep; but
It Is no secret that he did not nearly complete
his original intention. lie met his first serious
rebuff in an attack on tie position Of mediocre
country gentleman, whose highest position on
the ladder Of merit was reached when he became
Chairman Of Quarter Sessions in his county. The
poverty Of material among Conservative states
men, ard q stroke OF good fortune in memorable
electoral contest, placed him in the Cabinet.
He would have had to 60 in 1886 but for one
circumstance His sober qualities business
capacity of the county solicitor order, and
possibly his restfu atmosphere of commonplace,
have secured for him the special favor of the
Queen. Lord Salisbury was able 10 place his
back against the Throne in resisting Lord Ram
doph's attack this estmablc Individual In
the end q compromise was effected Lord Ran
dolph positively refused to have Mediocrty sitting
with him on the Treasury Bench. So it was
relegated to the more cOngenial atmosphere OF
the House of Lords, installed in office, where.
while it affected the welfare of two hundred and
fifty millions Of British subjects. at least relieved
the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader OF
the House OF Commons from habitual personal
contact with the incumbent
There is an old gang" on the Front Oppte-
ton Bench as we'll as on the Treasury lEnch,
and the question just now asltating the political
world and disturbing Mr.. Gladstonc's nights rest
is how is it to be dealt with, OF is 1t TO be dealt
with at all? In the smokerOom Of the House OF
Commons the difficulty is aerlally settled and adj
ministrations ore drawn up which place at the dis
posal of the nation the very best available men,
with no square pegs in round holes. That Is all
very we'll for the slhokeroom. But it is a differ
ent thing for Mr.. Gladstone, who Is an exceed
ingly human person. and. while above all things
animated with a desire to do the best possible
thing for the State. is also cruelty hamperea with
long associations and personal connections. Tho
usual thing when. for various reasons, an ex-Alin-
lister is no longer desirable for harness is to put
lin, in the Lords That is evidently limited ex
pcdient It Is not every man wh3 can afford to
accept peenge, and there are some smaller men
who; while they would suffer with equal acute
ness in the distribution of Office, not Of the ma
tcrial Of which even peers may lie made. II Is
these second and third rate men who probably
h,u d. Nfr lads nhe