The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-18

The leading article in the current number
OF the Nineteenth Century is a pungent at
tack by Mr. ST. LoE STRAcHEY upon the
present head Of the British Liberal party.
The latter Is described as a protean and
elusive personality which presents itself in
at least seven aspects or atmospheres, to
wit. as a Home Ruler, Unionist, Radi-
cal-Socialist, a political boss, man above
party, a sphinx, and sporting man. II is
obviously of much interest to Gladstonians
To learn which Of these is the real Lord
RosEBERY, or whether, In truth he is none
of them. but something as yet undetected by
his partisans or his opponents.
As Lord RosEBERY is the Prime Minister
in home rule Government, IL should be
easy to give a clear delineation OF him in
this capacity. But Mr.. STRACHEY insists
that the opposite Is the case. No doubt
Lord RosEBERY has often spoken in favor
OF home rule as an abstract proposition,
but he has avoided pnning himself to the
adoption of any particular scheme\ at any
definite time. Instead of advocating the
self government OF Ireland in a serious, I'M
fiinching, unequivocal way, he seems to be
winking and whispering the assurance that
he is AL right upon the question. When
he first met his party last March as their
Premier, he announced that I'VE stand
where we did," but the declaration was
followed the same afternoon by the
admission in the House OF Lords that in
the United Kingdom England was the pre-
dominant partner, whose consent was a
condition precedent to granting the de-
mands of Ireland. Subsequently, however,
at Edinburgh he tried to break the force of
the admission by protesting that he did not
mean that England proper must return
majority of her members favorable to home
rule, but merely that she must return enough
TO exc out a home rule majority in the
whole kingdom. AS that state OF things
already exists, the question naturally arises,
what is the Premier waiting for Still, as
he has recanted his former error, he may
fairly claim, as Mr.. STRACHEY comedies, 10
be Home Ruler. II he is anything
This and the ancillary question whether
Lord ROsEBERY is Unionist are the only
two of the Premiers aspects in which Irish
Nationalists and lrish-Americans are pri-
marily concerned. The quotations OF
Unionist tinge made by Mr.. STRACHEY from
speeches delivered in 1885 and 1887 prove
nothing, for similar extracts might be made
from contemporaneous utteranees of Sir
GEORGE TREvELYAS, who is now a stall
waTt friend of Ireland IL Lord RosEBERY
was Unionist even as late as last March,
he is so no longer, having since committed
himself TO the home rule cause, though in
language wagner than could lie wished.
But since the rejection of the Home Rule
bill and Evicted Tenants bill by the Lords
It is evident that no one can be a thorough
and trusted Home Ruler who is not
willing 10 abolish the hereditary leg
islators. or at least TO extinguish
their veto power IL is pointed out by Mr..
STRACHEY that when Lord ROsEBERY was
brought face to face with this problem he
SHE'D at il like a nervous horse. Speaking at
Birmingham in May, he said that he saw no
way of beating the Lords, and implored his
hearers to think Of a plan. 1t is generally
supposed that the business OF leaders is to
lead, and assuredly Mr.. GLADSTONE would
never have admitted that he Was at his
wits end. On the contrary, he would have
limited in Oraoular phrase that the resources
Of the Constitution were not exhausted, an /
that, il authorized by the electors, he would
find a method Of dealing with the Lords.
Since May, as II happens, the conference OF
the Liberal Federation at Leeds has heark-
ened to the Premier's appeal for enlighten-
ment, and thought Of a plan" Whether
Lord ROsEBERY will adopt it is as yet I'M
known, but he cannot much longer defer
divulging his intentions.
Il was assumed that the new Premisr's
foreign policy would he one of his strong
points, but here, too, he has disappointed
expectation. The convention which he ar
ranged with the Congo Free State, for the
purpose of securing a right Of way between
the British possessions in south and in East
Africa, Was greeted with flourish Of trunl-
pets; bat Presehtly he had to stand aside and
80 ths treaty torn " shrsds aLths bidding