The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-08-31

of Manchester. Sir Charles Dilke's sin
was the sin of the aristocracy. And Sir
Charles Dixie is an aristocrat in spite Of
all his Cost OF the Grown" and: his ci-
devarlt republicanism. Us
Although his undisguised candidacy
for the Liberal leadership has not yet
reached a stage where it can be advoa
Gated by the newspapers it is not impos-
sible. that it will be gratified. Politi-
clans generally concede that foreign af-
fairs will occupy d great share Of the at
tention Of Lord Salisbury's government.
The disarrangement Of Asiatic relations,
the Chinese massacres, the outbreak in
the Balkans, the stubborness Of the
sultan in the Armenian negotiations
and the ever-recurring difficulties in AT
rica are bound to develop l1notty ques-
tions for the cabinet. In that case, Sir
Charles Dixie is sure to go to the front,
either as actual leader or as acknOwl-
edged adviser OF the opposition.
The following is added concerning Mr..
Dixie from another source:
The discussion of the question Of the
Liberal leadership in the commons has
received flip from the declaration of
Sir Charles Dixie that he is ready to
frame a program for the opposition If
ex-lninisters are unable to provide one
Dill1e's masterly qualifications have.
never been in dispute. Fifteen years ago,
at the end of Mr. Gladstone's ministry Of
1880, he was heir to the premiership at
the age of 81. 1t was fully expected that
he would be foreign minister in the next
Gladstone administrations position for
which his studies, travels and. cast of
mind qualified him before all other Lib
erals Of the day. At the time he had
been pointed out by Beaconsfeld as a
future prime minister In 1885, just 10
years ago this month, there burst over
him a storm Of popular denunciation
and ob1oquy, which threatened FOR sever
al years to cut hi,n Off irreparably from
public life. An English jury found him
guilty, ON the hysterical confession of
his para1nour, of a peculiarly disgraceful
adultery and of a double liason with
the wife OF his friend and with noto-
rious French woman. He retired from
politics after a valedictory address to the
Chelsea electors in which he swore by
the memory of ali he loved that he was
innocent.
For six years he took no part in public
life, but his ceaseless and striking con-
t7ioutions to literature were of charac-
ter effectually tc prevent his falling into
oblivion. Before 1891 he had attracted
the attention of Europe as an authority
on the foreign and colonial policy of
Great Britain, and of British imperial
defense. One by one the Liberal lead
ers who had refused to associate with
him after the aspersion cast upon firn
by court of law, began to resume social
relations with him. Throughout the
whole period he had the open friendship
of Joseph Chamberlain, whom he CON
vinced Of his innocence and Of Lady
Dixie, who had not hesitated to marry
him in the very crisis of his troubles.
& 70 the astonishment of the whole coun-
try he boldly came forward in 1892 as a
liberal candidate for the Forest Of Dean,
and in spite of the most violent opposi-
tion-an opposition more widespread than
that which defeated Parnell for his social
derelictions-'was chosen by majority of
more than 1890 over the Tory candidate.
With wonderful elf-possession he took
up the broken thread Of his public life
just where he laid it down in 1856. In the
late parliament, no man, not even a cab
met minister, attended with greater regu-
larity. He never missed sitting. He was
as sure to be in his place as the speaker
was to be in his. He followed every bill :.
as conscientiously as if he were an officer
and responsible for all that was going on.
His eye he kept on subjects as wide apart
as district councils and New Foundland,
army estimates and the mahdi
Slowly but surely he began to recover
that ascendancy over the house of COM
mons which he exercised in the old. days;
little by litIle to bring members Of both
parties under the influence, not of fine
oratory or ready wit, but of his thorough
knowledge of the business of state. The
power is, after all. the power that accom-
plisl1es most in the house Of commons and
most effectively impresses the British
public.
Dixie is So years Of a age and seven
years younger than. Mr.. Chamberlain,
who is his best friend in parliament. He
bears some traces of the long and terrible
strain of social ostracisnl but is still
the most noteworthy figures of the
house .