New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-21
LORD ROSEBERY.
H..
~ry IEADERSHIP-THE PEER CUES.
r1Ov- SOME LITTLE PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS AND IN
CIDENTS.
London. March 10.


.,.r One Man Administration under Lord
posebery. His party, says this oracle of the
...,r Marty. have evidently made up their minds
" ,rna, him as hero. They are busy construct
Rosebery legend, adds the oracle; a re-
- which interests me the more because
.olo i, Yesterday. and one likes to be corrobo-
.o,od Most heroic lives have legendary ee-
-, Mr. Gladstone's had. But the legend like
,A ufo is almost always evolved out of the
,o,,r,s,ances and eXigencies Of the situation in
hich the hero finds himself, and the Rosebery
,o,d hears unmistakable ear-marks of its
Democratic origin
Thu facts on which ii rests may be perfectly
,r,. II Is the use made Of the facts which
,oavos the legendary stamp on them There Is
Gov nxanple the visit Of the new Prime Min
,s,ar 70 the London County Council on Tues
ao,, The visit was actually made and no doubt
:, was the first time that Prime Minister of
Eosland had paid such visit to a body which
is after all, only g!crified vestry. The act
was simple and natural, but what it be-
comes and how ii is described from opposite
noints of view The organ of Progressive mu-
ncip,l Radicalism halls it with feverish delight.
"Vben the Prime Minister Of England walks
into the chamber of the London Council, where
he sits as the representative of Finsbury 1t is a
truism to say that a democratic regime has
been inaugurated.
= The expert controversialist when he has
doubtful proposition TO advance often prefers to
call it truism. His appearance was to this
Radical writer. not only picturesque but
promise and a pledge which all Radicals view
with joy Not so the Conservative. who hints
that Lord Rosebery was only posing and that
this attitude though excusable for once will
he ha,ct,,
Of Government has begun Neither seems to me
a true view. Lord Rosebery's interest in the
London County Council is perfectly genuine. but
his presence in Spring Gardens. on Tuesday, in
volved no promise or pledge beyond what had
often been given previously. Very likely he
meant his colleagues. and also the public. to
understand that his interest in he affairs Of
London was none the less because h now has an
Empire to look after. But there certainly was
no historical or lyrical intention in the act.
The theory Of the One Man Administration is
not much strengthened by the first official sum
mons to the party The invitation to "a meeting
of the Liberal party in the House Of Commons to
be held at the Foreign Office Monday. March
r." went out in the joint names of the Earl OF
Rosebery and Sir William Harcourt. l am not
sure whether there is precedent for sucn
course. IL need not be assumed that II means
a duumvrate 1t does mean 10 emphasize the
fact that Sir William Harcourt is Leader in the
House Of Commons. II the meeting OF the LIB
eral members Of the House were an ordinary one
II would be summoned in the name Of the Leader
Of the House alone. As 1t is meeting to hear
a statement from the new Prime Minister the
name of the new Prime Minister appears in the
notice But as Sir William Harcourt was next
after Lord Rosebery the most conspicuous candl-
date for the leadership Of the whole party MS
friends NAV think the inclusion of his name
graceful recognition, as it is Of the claims ne
LOYALTY waived. 1t probably does not go beyond
that unless one is to suppose that Lord Rose
berry thinks it worth while to smooth the RULED
plumage Of the austere Radicals who cannot
or could not brook Peer Premier.
The phrase, which is hardly English, is Mr.
Iabouchere's He and Mr.. Storey and the rest
Of the malcontent deputaton who burst in
upon Mr. Marjoribanks with their protest against
being ruled by Peer. may be able TO attend
a party meeting TO which they are convoked
by Sir William Harcourt. The collapse OF their
little rebellion does not necessarily leave them
outside of the party. Mr. Labouchere takes
characteristic revenge on the associates VINO
declined to follow him into his cave Inc
he tells us, love Lord; as byron said
Tommy Moore did. Mr.. Labouchere is hlinseh
a lofty exception; perhaps because ne Hdu
Lord for uncle. Lord Taunton.
Times are changing, but title has beeh' COW"
10 the present moment, little or no hindrance 10
political ambition in this country. Often II mas
been help. There IS ? story-a true story 'hiS
ona-of a brief conversation between an eminent
INT titled Conservative and the new Premier
The Conservative said: you must admit Rose
berry that our titles have been OF great use 10
us both In our political careers. VIII not say
what Lord Roseberys answer was But II
might be difficult to name any other heihpei
Of the House Of Lords who. bOth IN puDHc anu
in private life. has shown a stronger oeSlre "
find himself on level with the great hluiu'uuc
OF his fellow citizens. 1t Is no secret 'hat nc
would have rejoiced If he could have sat In the
House Of Commons. That does not necessarily
imply any hostility to his own order II only
means that the House of Commons Is 'he centre
and true seat OF political authority; the gov
erning power in this country; ana man VIM
wishes to govern would naturally like to be al
the centre.
Lord Rosebery has shown in many ways. and
as said. both in public and private life,
tendency TO Democratic ideas rare in his order'
and simplicity of taste rarer still. Little things
show what a man is really like. Let us take az
illustrations some Of the things called little. anu
see whether they do not show that II ne cannot
rid himself wholly of the paraphernalia OF lib
rank he reduces them TO the painest expression
For titles he seems at times TO have posi'i'e
aversion He is Earl Of Rosebery, but on tie
title pages Of his published speeches ana OF MS
mastery little book on Pitt you read: by hoiu
Rose berry" 1t is probably the only case in the
peerage where the peer voluntarily descends TO
a rank lower than his own. lie could not wei
call himself "Mr" Rosebery-it would be mis-
leading-and the time for Citizen Rosebery or
for Citizen Smith, has not yet arrived In TINS
country nor is likely to arrive In his time Inc
same form is used on his dinner invitation caro',
Lord Rosebery requests etc" and II - staiipeu
his dispatch boxes. His signature mas az
times. marked popularity. a Peer III '"
country signs himself Salisbury Devonshlre' anu
30 II is. or was. territorial desigha'io"'
and no initial precedes the name. Lord ho"e
4.