The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-03

abied him TO ma out sooner than ANYBODY
else, not excepting themselves, what they
were best htfor.
Lord Salisbury had devoted himself
mainly to home affairs. and especially to
church questions, but Disraeli discerned
in him a great foreign minister. By way
of testing his capacity in this respect he
sent him 70 the conference Of the powers
az Constantinople, without any previous
training, as minister p!enipotentiary. at an
extremely critical period. He acquitted
himself so well that he acquired at one
stroke almost equal rank with Dis
raeli as master Of foreign
politics. position which he has
never forfeited since. From that
time until Disraeli's death n ISL, the two
statesmen were IS David and Jonathan;
and when the author of the policy Of
peace with honor" was laid 10 his rest
under the pyramid Of primroses at Hugh
enden, Lord Salisbury was unanimously
acclaimed his successor IN the leadership
OF the Conservative party. How we'll he
has succeeded IN that position IS attested
by the fact that out OF the eleven years
elapsed since Disrae. = death the Conserva-
tives have been in Office seven; they have
never been defeated on q governments
question in the house Of commons, nor on
anv question in the house OF lords; and
thew have lost fewer seats than either
party ever los. before II an equal length
OF time.
The contrast between their condition
today and their condition under Lord
Derby IS one Of the most remarkable
things in the modern history OF English
politics Undoubtedly Disraei had q
great deal TO do with that. IL was he who
galvanized the prestige of the Conservative
party into a brilliant senlbiance Of re-
newed vitality. But IL is Lord Salisbury
who really inspired it with fresh life, and
lone arlsa OF
full years in ever increasing vigor.
4 British foreign minister needs 10 be
much more than 4 mere dIp.0matist. The
ablest and mnst prominent dlplonatists
in the queens service are, n fact, but in
strumenrs IN his hands If only the
British Isles were 20 be considered. his
post would be comparatively sinecure.
But what ne has 70 understand and bear
constantly in mind are the several and
collective interests Of all the diverse and
widely scattered parts OF the empire
Often when he Is conducting some tedious
negotiation with continental power upon
an apparently trivial question, the object
which he really has IN view IS connected
with the future safety or welfare Of some
distant dependency. Practically. he con-
trolls all the outside affairs Of the empire,
and the minister OF war, the secretary Of
state for the colonies, and even the arss
lord Of the admiralty, are but coadlutors
OF his. That Is Why Lord Salisbury ha,
al wavs contended that the Office Of min
lister for foreign affairs ought 10 be held
By the head Of the government Before
his time il was customary for the premier
10 be first lord of the treasury, on the the
ory that he ought 10 hold the purse
strings. But Lord Salisbury has always
taken the ground that the most important
office in the cabinet, in the modern posi-
ton of the British empire, Is that Of for
- l. q.
able TO control the purse strings through
a trusted colleague as he would De II he
himself administered the treasury.
History affords abundant evidence OF
the correctness of this view. All the re-
cent trouble between Great Britain and
France about the North American fisheries
and q very serious trouble It is-arose
from gross ignorance OF colonial affairs on
the part OF a foreign minister more than
loo years ago. In one OF his best known
essays, Macaulay makes great fun OF the
Duke of Newcastle not knowing that
Cape Breton was an island But st
much later period Java. the gem OF the In
dian ocean, was lost TO Great Britain by
similar 0lunder on the part OF foreign
minister, who, in concluding treaty Of
peace, said he supposed ''ons island Was
pretty much the same as another
We need not go so far back as that, in
deed, TO see the results OF the system OF
divided counssis in imperial affairs
against which Lord Salisbury has stead
tasty set his face. All through Mr.. Glad
stones long administration the empire
was involved in costly and disastrous little
wars, and IN angry alterations with the
colonies, simply because the premier gave
al his attention 70 the treasury, while the
foreign minister, the war minister, the
first lord of the admiralty and the secre-
tary Of the colonies each pulled his own
way. There has been nothing of that kini
during the last seven years. and Il Is safe
10 say there never viii De IS long as Lord
SALISBURY remains where he -. The rule
OF his foreign policy Is, 20 use his own
words. Ito treat 81 other powers as a gen.
tle.nan would treat his neighbors. that IS
10 say. ike gentlemen" and IN every case,
if possible, 10 come 20 q friendly settle
mens, beneficial 10 all concerned; and the
underlying principle Of IL al Is 10 Keep
good faith, promising nothing which he
does not fulfill. and threatening nothing
" hIch be does not mean 70 iniIct.
Bismarck, who IS an ulSQu2lLed Judge
OF such matte used 10 say /. was inpos-
slble TO cult the friendship Of Great
Britain under Gladstone. because IL was
from week 20 week, whereas under Lord
Sallsoury's regime, Germany has become
warmly attached 10 Great Britain without
Offending French susceptibiEries.
At home. while Lord Salisbury's great
Merits as B foreign minister are very gem
orally acknowledged. he has never gained
popularity IL the ordinary sense. The
sristocracy swear by him. and the great
mass or the w0rkIlgmsa have : genuine
admiration OF him. But the lower mid
Ole class, the small Iradesmea and the
mere mob do not Ike him a. all As tor
him, he despIses them TOO heartily 20 have
any resentment against them. and ne IS
far too proud 20 make any effort 80 con-
cltlase them. He never shrlnxs from ex-
pressing his contempt for them aud their
views OF public lie, ana he Is a. any tina
ready 20 retire rather than 10 oe indebted
20 them for single vote He Is not - al
22 eloquent speaker, bus he - 80 bold and
clear. SD6 Il dealing with his opponents
be has such cutting Wiz tina. his speeches
are always eagerly listened 10 and read.
he : not CncOmmonly charged with oai
t2ste II MS eplgrafnS. IS for instance when
ne SAID, apropos Of William o BrIea and
DlIlOD'S flight from bail and Parnelgs
catasErophe; 1T : a curious thing about
irish Nationalist leaders that they are
always escaping Sometimes they escape
ay water and sometimes oy the IRE es-
cape. But he cares nothing for such ac-
cusatlons. He says whatever be pseases
and II his foes don't Ike IL 50 much tae
worse for them
IN private life Lord Salisbury Is
pFlneety noble IN ali respects, rasgniu-
cent host, 81 excellen. landlord snd nrm
and cordial friend. He has entertained
Queen Victoria 81 E2t6eld house,
rs splendid seat in HeTEfo-ishlFe,
as MS ancestors entertained Queen
ElizaSeth under the same roof.
and last year ne entertained the German
am - a. k.z-r