The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24

his way he Is curious com Dina
ton OF prudence and boldpess. ! He has
shown this in many ways. both IN puolic
and private life. Fully discerning that
great fortune is an incalculable advantage
TO young and pushing politician. he
married the only child of Baron Meyer
Rothschlid, one of the greatest heiresses
in England. This was complete reversal
Of the traditions of his ancestors, who had
always matie lofty matches among the old
nobility Il was. in fact. the first instance
of British nobleman of really great sta
ton marrying . Jewish lady. Hannah
Rothschild, moreover, had none of the
characteristics OF the aristocratlc class.
She was very Jewish-looking, very ma
troniy and very plain in speech and man
ners. LORD Rosebery. however. knew very
well what he was doing. He got with
his wife not only vast fortune and
the mighty influence of the Rothschild
family, but a devoted companion and an
extremely able co-operator IN all the OBJ
Jects OF his life. Lady Rosebery made him
double the man ne was before and gave an
impetus TO his career. which he could
never have gained without her help. He,
on his part, showed himself IN every way
worthy OF her enthusiasm for him, and
from the date of his marriage his eleva-
ton was certain and rapid. One high
honor succeeded another, until, in 1856,
when under 40. he was appointed secre-
tary OF state for foreign affairs. Prior TO
that. he made tour of the world with ms
wife. and, II report speaks truly, disposed
of great part of their fortune in far-see-
ing investments, which will one day make
him immensely rich. He did one little
thing in this way which throws an anus
ing light on what is called his cunning or
worldly wisdom. He is a man of great
literary attainments and wherever he goes
consorts by preference with literary men.
When at Sydney he was entertained with
great eclat By the Antheneum Club,
powerful literary fraternity there,
and was very soon elected a men,
Der. The club were poorly housed,
though on a very valuable site, and not
being as good at business as at literature,
were in difficulty as to how to provide
quarters for their growing membership
and Importance. Lord Rosebery having
been consulted, at once solved the prob
lem for them. What they wanted was
really magnificent club house. Out of re-
gard for the institution and the city, he
would himself advance the whole OF the
money required. on security of the land
and building, and would not require re-
payment Tor ten years. Rates of interest
were rather high in the colony at the
time, but he would be content with 6
per cent The club joyfully accepted this
generous offer. They spent the whole of
the money on the premises. their member
snip doubled. the very fact of Lord Rose
5eryS connection causing a rush of most
desirable eandidates-and Lord Rosebery
got about as snug and safe an investment
as the heart OF man could desire. The
popularity that he got in the colonies by
doing himself this good turn went q long
way TO further his fortunes at home and
to accelerate his use in the world. 1t is
just that habit of killing two birds.with
80 49, - L
success in lie. Nobody quite sees before
hand what the main object is, but the re-
suit always shows that he himself knew
perfectly well what he was aiming at.
In 1856, when the split in the Liberal
party on the home rule question took
place, Lord Rosebery followed the fortunes
of Mr.. Gladstone and went out of Office
In the house of lords a statesman in oppo-
sition has really nothing to do, and Lord
Rosebery looked round eagerly for some
new field of activity. Nobody ever be-
lieved IN his supposed sympathy with the
Irish cause. 1t must be said for him, IN
deed, that he has never pretended to look
upon home rule as anything but a matter
of temporary and very questionable politi-
cal expectancy. He had, nevertheless, to
do some sort of yeoman service to the
Liberal party. whose leader he hopes one
day to be. He, therefore, went altogether
outside of parliamentary politics and Of
fered himself for the election to the Lon
don county council. He was returned I'M
opposed, carried in with him a large
majority OF Liberals and was unanimously
elected chairman. twas one of the odd
est and craftiest things ever done by
politician of his standing; for, whilst it
placed the government of London practi-
cally in the hands of the Liberal party,
though almost all the metropolitan con-
stituencies return Conservatives to parlia-
ment, it allayed all the uneasiness on the
part of the propertied class, because Lord
Roseberry is himself wealthy landlord.
In short, he played one party off against
the other so cleverly that on the whole
both were satisfied. He never allowed the
measures, but yet he never allowed the
Conservatives to exercise any share Of
patronage or any show of power. Both
parties were so bewildered by his finesse
that they pretty well agreed to let him
have his own way in everything.
Two years ago Lady Rosebery died, to
the great sorrow OF the people, for her
charities and many good works had made
her quite a national benefactor. Lord
Rosebery Immediately resigned his public
positions and retired into complete pri-
vacy. The cynics declared that this was
only part of his duplicity and that he had
made his domestic bereavement an excuse
for escaping from the Craftsmanship of
the London county council and from other
radical associations which were really dis
tasteful to him. As usual, he seemed
totally unconscious of what his detractors
were saying. At the end of his period of
mourning he emerged, looking younger
and simpler than ever, and without a
moments warning descended on London,
made vigorous appeal to the radical and
socialistic elements, hurled an omin-
+hraar r1.f
corporation of the city itself and carried
more than three-fourths of the county
elections for the Liberal party. The Con-
servatlyes were so taken by surprise they
hardly knew what was happening till it
was all over. But, hopelessly routed as
they were at the polls, they were almost
reconciled TO their defeat by Lord Rose
berry consenting to resume the chairman
ship. There Is a general feeling that moth
ing derogatory to the dignity of the
metropolis or injurious TO the best inter
ests OF the citizens can take place so long
as his personal influence Is paramount
In fact. an opinion widely prevails that he
is thorough Conservative at heart, and
only plays part towards the destructive
elements because he thinks il easier and
safer to lead them than to resist them.
However that may be. he is now consid-
cred certain OF the leadership of the Lib
eral party after Mr.. Gladstone.
In private life Lord Rosebery also seems
TO combine two characters in one. He is
very affabie iii his manners, almost too
much so at first meeting; yet, in reality,
prouder man does not live. When he
gives he gives freely, splendidly; but he is
sharp man of business and gets full value
for his money, whether in charity or not
No lmpostor ever gets round him. Women
adore him, but he IS so discreet be escapes
all breath OF scandal. There is no man in
England whose future, public and pri-
waite, is looked forw ard to with greater in
terest or greater uncertainty