New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-03
Mr.. AsQU1TH.
II.
HIS CAREER AT THE BAl.-SOME PERsoxIn
"REMINISCENCES AND TRAITS.


1t was. imagine. in the course Of the pro
ceedings before the Parnell Commission, vhicA
ought strictly to be called the Special Com.
mission. that you first heard OF Mr. Asou,th
Every one who bore q considerable part 4.
that great State Trial became known then y
he had not been known before. It Is but fou,
years and a half ago: years which IN N.
rapid march Of these crowded days seem each
like q generation. He was then but thirtv.
seven years old He was unknown in England
beyond the circle Of friends and associates. ex.
cept to certain number Of solicitors who haA
discovered that. II they confided law bustnssa
to this young practitioner, 1t was sure to b
we'll done,-except also to the few students
Of public affairs who interest themselves IN
rising young men; except, finally. to the
electors Of East Fife. who. in 1885, had chosen
him by q small majority to represent that
constituency in Parliament; which he has ever
since done. 1t is probably because he sits Tor
q division Of a Scotch county that he has =
often been thought to be himself a Scot: q
mistake to which / referred yesterday. And
after all, Yorkshire and Scotland and tho
natives of each. have something in common.
When Mr. Asquith took part in the Special
Commission he had not yet attained. luckily
for him, TO the dignity Of Queens Counsel.
He still wore a stuff gown and sat In the
second row Of the barristers benches behind
his leaders. 1 say luckily for him. because all
the leading counsel for the defendants in that
memorable inquiry were overshadowed by the
leader of them all. Sir Charles Russell Rivalry
with him was out Of the question. and he
left but little Of the more serious part Of the
business to be done by his fellow Q. C.'s. On
the other hand he left, as every leader does
much to be done by his juniors, and 1t 10
not too much to say that among the juniors
Mr.. Asquith held much the same pre-eminence
as Sir Charles among the seniors. The two
between them had the whole case at their
fingers ends. 1t was Mr. Asquith's business
to know the details. and he knew them. At
moments, the conduct Of important episodes
fell to him; such as the cross-examination Of
Mr. Macdonald. which he conducted with dis.
tinction. 1t was seen that he was equal To
the task laid upon him; and few heavier bur.
dens have been laid on such young shoulders
Next year he was made Q. c.. and fortune
smiled upon him from behind the spectacles Of
the best solicitors.
Mr. Asquith got on at the bar without arts
and without much influence. He was known to
be a lawyer. and a sound one. Two anecdotes
will let you into one OF the main secrets Of his
day in private very abstruse point Of laws
intricate. complicated. dependent much
knowledge of books and early lore. Mr.. As.
quith was present and said little. The matter
came up again. again in private. few days
later, and Mr. Asqulth. being asked for an opn-
ion entered upon the whole subject, which, Il
was clear he had in the interval entirely mas.
tered. It was remote from the course Of bust.
al IN he of 100 n
sorally. Asked why he had taken SO much
trouble. he answered simply that the topic
had interested him, and he thought he might
as we'll understand it. The understanding Of
it had cost a busy man three or four days
hard work.
He has, however,-and this brings us to anec.
dote No. 2,-an extraordinary power Of mas.
tering difficult subject rapidly. One Of the
three leaders OF the common law bar said Of
Mr.. Asquith that he had never known man
who went through a difficult set Of papers or
facts so quickly 1T has happened to me to
consult with him in such cases many times.
Briefs that have to read twice or thrice he
knows perfectly after one perusal." 1t is, per.
haps no great wonder that such man gets
on at the bar When Mr.. Asquith was offered,
and when he had accepted, the Home Secre-
taryship, there were thoee Of the legal profess
sion who shook their heads He was thought
to be giving UP assured position at the bar
for precarious position in politics. The customs
OF the bar. and still more that Of the solicitors
on whom. in one sense the bar is dependent for
employment, are peculiar Briefs are hard
to get in the beginning. and easy to lose II
man withdraws himself from the channel In
which they flow. To regain practice once
surrendered must, 1t was said. In any
case take time. But I asked a solicitor who
stands at the head Of one branch Of his pro-
fession. Nonsense" was his answer When
Mr. Asquth wants business again he will get
it easily l should give him good deal my
self" He would, Of course. have the prestige
OF former success. and the prestige Of a great
career at the Home Office. II his career had
been less successful. the situation might have
been different. No man here goes into poll
tcs' for a lvelihood.-no man in the first rank
I think first met Mr.. Asquith-if may In
dulge in personal remniscences-at house In
Scotland. The time was not long after he
had first been elected NJ. p. for East Fife So
far as ne was known. he was known as ris.
ing barrister; always a doubtful title to fame,
since there are always so many rising barrsters
who never RISE In politics he had his repu'
tation yet to make However. his presence at
this particular house INDICATED tnat. In tne
opinion Of its owner. he had some title to con'
sheraton Personal friend he was not. or
was not then. II is always an interesting
period in mans life when he has first won the
good will Of an important Parliamentary con-
stituency 1t means in some ways. and per.
haps socially most of all, more than II means
10 be elected a member Of Congress; much more
rather imagine that Mr.. AsQuth was. on this
occasion, meeting for the first time some OF
the men whose associate in public life ne was
after no very long interval. to become; som"
Of whom he was to pass swiftly in the race
What struck one about him was the enuV
absence of any effort to draw attention to him.
self. He seemed to have no ambition
shine. or to make a place for himself, or even
10 take that which rghtfully belonged to MIN
His manner was simplicity ITSELF his appear
ance boyish, and 1t has remained boyish' IN .
sense. save that it is difficult to connect tha'
word with the impression Of power and OF M
tcllectual superiority which is stamped on .n"
still Youthful face. Since those days lie no.
49,. rostor an1 farther than any man OF h's