The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-04
ROSEBERY AS PREMIER
WHAT EFFECT III WOULD H<VE
UPOy TIE LIBRRAL PARfY,
The Principal Objection to Him 10 His Title.
What the Irish Members Will DO.
VIII Harcourt support Rosebcry.

VIII Harcourt support Rosebcry
Copyright, 1894, by the United Press)
LONDON. March 3.-Mr. Gladstones
withdrawal from the premiership opens
most complex situation in domestic poll
ucs- what the consequence will be is
now impossible to foretell, although the
air OF the political clubs and the columns
OF the newspapers are filed with surinise
advice, and warnings. Difficulties will not
cease finally with the elevation OF Lord
Rosebery to the premiership, or the two
or three other Cabinet changes which are
contemplated.
The career Of the reconstructed ministry
viii proceed for some time probably on
the lines hitherto followed. The glamOr
OF Dir. Gladstone's name will be doubtless
OF the greatest use In making clear the
way OF the Cabinet as long as he shall
remain I'm or near the arena of politics,
but it must be remembered that the Gov
ernment majority Is small and that Lord
Rosebery, who has never been an ardent
Home Ruler. is likely TO have trouble
with the Irish members after the with
drawal Of the old Premiers conciliatory
influence. Henry Labouchere, the fight
ing leader OF the Radicals, and most of
his supporters. moreover, are not likely
to be reconciled to a peer IN the premier
ship, even under Mr.. GladstOnes influence,
and especially in view of Mr.. Gladstone's
final declaration against the House Of
Lords.
Attitude of the Irish Leaders.
The attitude of Justin Mccarthy and his
anuPaneilite followers will not be
chosen definitely until their meeting on
the eve Of the new session. AT present
they are not disposed TO take part in the
conflict over the leadership, as they re-
gard the pledges given by the Liberal
party as satisfactory to the claims of
Ireland. Much depends upon the attitude
of sT William Harcourt Chancellor OF
the Exchequer and Mr.. GladstOnes tried
lieutenant in the House of Commons. Sir
William seems 20 be the only personal
leader Of the Liberals in the Commons.
Should he consent TO serve under Lord
Rosebery much Of the ministerial diff
Guilty would be removed. although minor
causes of embarrassments would remain.
1t is impossible for any Liberal COmmOner
to oppose an item OF the Newcastle pro
gramine, merely with a view TO ejecnng
Government headed by a peer, but II
Sir William and other ministers dislike
the plan Of the new regime a dissolution
Of Parliament is more likely than a re-
construction of the Cabinet. The sum-
mOning OF members from the sOuthside
and the front bench 70 take seats in the
Cabinet is regarded as unlikely.
Lord Rose bery's Policy
Another series Of questions is involved
In the uncertainty of the Unionlsts' atti-
tude 10 some variations which Lord Rose
berry might sntroduce I'm The Libe al
policy. However much the Conservatives
and Liberal -UniOnists may desire TO oust
the new ministry at the first opportunity.
their action is likely TO be dictated largely |
by the tactics of the Libe al party man |
ayers, and should Lord Rosebery insist |
upon a larger naval vote than the one
favored by Gladstone. the conservatives
and Libersl-Unionists would support hin.
The opposition in this case would emanate |
from the Radicals and Irishmen. Sir |
William Harcourt. moreover, is not like |
ly to favor the large naval expenditures |
to which Lord Rosebery Is believed TO |
be inclined because he is anxious to have |
a popular budget There Is endless guess |
work concerning the personnel Of the re- |
constructed Cabinet. Many Radicals pre- |
diet these changes:
Probable Changes.
Sir William HarcOurt, to be Premier; |
Professor Bryce, now Chancellor Of the |
Duchy Of Lancaster, or Herbert Glad |
stone TO be Chief Secretary for ireland. |
in the place OF John Morley, and Morley |
to succeed the Earl OF Kimberley as /
Secretary Of State for India. Some say |
that Herbert Gladstone viii succeed Ed |
ward Marioribank as Chief Liberal whip |
and patronage Secretary to the Treas |
ury, and that Marjoribanks viii be made |
Secretary for Scotland. in the room OF |
Sir George Trevelyan, who Will succeed |
Earl Spencer as first Lord OF the Admi- |
rally. The same persons expect that |
Earl Spencer will be retired This, how |
ever. is guess work. There IS no doubt. |
however that the caucus managers and |
wire-pullers and many club men OF the |
Government party prefer Sir William |
Harcourt 70 Lord Rosebery in the Pre- |
miership. The extremists among them |
declare absolutely that they will not have
Lord Rosebery who has done none OF |
the Governments hard work, was never
a commoner and is tainted with lingo
ism.
Rosebsrv's Characieristics.
The fact is that Lord RoseberY is a
strong. reserved man. While many OF the
elder Ministerialists may not wish TO
serve under him, he is the fayofite Of
he great majority Of Liberals outside
# the Parliament. The voters who took
o him are not the class who attend
meetings and agitate but on election
lays they are the backbone of the party.
rhey prefer Lord ROsebery TO others
because he proved so amply his firmness'
act. and foresightedness when he was
hartman of the London County Council
ME Alidlands and the North of England
emember him for his success in settling
he disastrous coal strike of last year,
While Scotland, regarding herself as the |
natural heir 20 the Liberal leadership, |
prefers him TO any other candidate yet |
mentioned for the Premiership. Lord
2osebery is "A natural statesman. Lord |
Randolph Churchill once compared Lord
Rosebery with Machiavelli. The COM
,arison was made i'm jest, but many OF
he most intimate friends think il might
,e accepted In earnest. Rosebery has been
. schemer and therein lies one cause or
2adical distrust, although Labouchere
nd his friends say that the opposition
! o,ite impersonal, and Is directed
gainst the hereditary principle alone.
he Radicals believe, also, that Olad-
tone,s withdrawal was not wholly due
q the weakness Of his health, but large
= 10 the pressure exercised BY his col
,agues in favor Of larger naval expen-
itures.
IL May Decline.
II Is not by any means certain that
,ory Roscbery will succeed in holding his
arty together long. but IL is certain
hat he is better able 10 reconcile the
Il, 9th 1