The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-24

athan; and when the author OF the policy
OF peace with honor was laid 10 his rest
under the pyramid OF primroses al Hugh
endeu. Lord Salisbury was unanimously
acclaimed his successor in the leadership
OF the Conservative party.
A British foreign minister needs to be
much more than a mere diplonatist- me
ablest and most prominent diplomatlsts
in the queens service are. in fact, but IN
struments in his hands II only the Bit
ish isles were 10 be considered, has post
would be comparatively a sinecure- But
what he has TO understand and bear con-
stantly in his mind are the several ana
collective interests OF all the diverse and
widely scattered parts OF the empire.
Often when he is conducting some tedlous
negotiation with continental power upon
an apparently trivial question. the ooJect
which he really has in view Is connectei
with the future safety or welfare OF some
distant dependency Practically, he con-
trolls all the outside affairs of the empire,
and the minister OF war, the secretary CT
state Tor the colonies, and even the hrsl
lord OF the admiralty. are but coadJutoFs
of his. That is why Lord SALISBURY mas
always contended that the Office OF MN
lister of foreign affairs ought 20 De celd
by the head of the government. Before
his time IL was customary for the premier
10 be first lord OF the treasury, on the the
ory that ne ought TO hold me purse
strings But Lord Salisbury has always
taken the ground that the most import
ant office in the cabinet. in the modern
position of the British empire, is that OF
foreign minister, and that he Is quite as
well able to control the purse strings
through a trusted colleague as he would
be II he himself administered the treasury
History affords abundant evidence OF
the correctness of this view. All the
trouble between Great Britain a1d france
about the North American fisheries arose
from gross ignorance OF colonial affairs
on the part OF a foreign minister more
than 100 years ago. In ore or MS pest
known ESSAYS. Macaulay makes great fun
OF the Duke OF Newcastle not knowing
Cane Breton was an island. But at
much later period Java, the gem OF ihe
Indian ocean, was lost TO Great Britain
by a similar blunder on the part or a
foreign minister, who, In concluding a
treaty OF peace. said he supposed one
island was pretty much the same as an
other
At home. while Lord Salisbury's great
merits as a foreign minister are very
generally acknowledged, he has never
gained popularity in the ordinary sense
The aristocracy swear by him, ana the
great mass of the worixingmen have
genuine admiration OF him. But the
lower middle class, the small tradesmen
and the mere mob do not like him al all.
AS for him. he despises them too heartily
to have any resentment against them,
and he is too proud TO make any effort
to conciliate them. He never shrinkS
from expressing his contempt for them
and their views of public life. and he is
at any time ready TO retire rather tnan
10 be indebted to them for a single vote
He is not at all an eloquent speaker, but
he is so bold and clear. and In dealing
with his opponents he has such a cut
L. -.
eagerly listened to and read. He is not
uncommonly charged with bad taste in
his epigrams, as for instance when he
said apropos of William O'Bren and
Dillon's fight from bail and Parnell's
catastrophe: 1T is curious thing about
Irish Nationalist leaders that they arc
always escaping. Sometimes they escape
by water and sometimes by the fire es-
cape" But he cares nothing for such
accusations. He says whatever he
pleases. and If his foes don't like it, so
much the worse for them
In private life Lord Salisbury IS a
princely noble in all respects, a magnifi-
cent host an excellent landlord and a firm
and cordial friend. He has entertained
Queen Victoria at Hatfield house, his
splendid seat IN Hertfordshire as his an
cestors entertained Queen Elizabeth UNI
der the same roof; and last year he enter
rained tie German emperor there But 10
see him at his best 1t is necessary to be
at ono OF his "hume'' PARTIES when ne
surrounds himself with his neighbors ard
friends from all parts of the country,
and comes oaEt strong IN his true Charac-
ter Of "a fine Old English gentlemen. one
of the oiden time" He loves good eat
ing and drinking. puts away a bottle Of
old port after dinner, in defiance of his
hereditary govt. and Is not at all ashamed
OF a few generous old English vices But
nOhlesse ohlige Is his rule of life and ne
never departs from II. For years past u is
health has compelled him to live in the
south of France in winter; and the villa
Cecil Is becoming almost as well known
in connection with his name as Hatfield.
II speaks volumes for his bonhomie that
he IS. next TO the Prince OF Wales. the
most popular Englishman in France.
Lord Salisbury was born in Hatfield
house in 1890. He was educated at Elton
and at oxford, graduating from Christ
church. From 1888 10 1865 he was member
Of the house OF commons, being then pro-
noted by his fathers death 10 the house
OF lords. lie was appointed secretary of
state for India in 1850 by Lord Derby. and
again IN 1874 by Disraci. In 1876 he was
sent as special ambassador to Turkey and
was a colleague OF Disrsel in 1873 at the
congress Of Berlin. In the same year he
became secretary Of state for foreign af-
fairs and clearly enUnciated the policy Of
Great Britain with regard TO the Eastern
question lie went out Of Office with his
party after the defeat Of April. 1850. and
the next year on the death OF Disraeu.
succeeded him as leader OF the Conserva-
tiyes. on June o 1Ss5. he succeeded Glad
stone rs prime minister. but was turned
out in November OF tho same year. Glad
stone was defeated on the home rule issue
the next year. and Salisbury took charge
OF the government the second time. re-
naming N power SIX years.