The Irish standard., 1895-09-28
and in khe long and intricate negotiations


=.
and in the long and intricate negotiations
Nai,ieh followed at Cabool, london and St.
Petersburg the English statesman 5s and
plotnat was faithful to the trust. How
Tar the inf fuence Of the RaWalpindi inter
svieW has extended, let the recent pres
fence O6 the shazadah In London bear Wit
/ ness. The utmost efforts Of Russia during
aadecade have not been able to neutrallze8
the impression produced on the ameer's
mind il 1855 by the arguments and per-
sonahty 0f#Lord Dufferin.
Scarcely less splendid as an achieve
ment or less important TO the future OF
England in Asia was Lord DuffeTin's s an
ne1ation Of upper Bur1nah to the British
crown and nhe extinction of the dynasty
Of Theebaw and the Mandalay kings.
Those acts established and confirmed
tho new Indio-Chinese frontier. The
French have, never forgiven Dufferin for
that stroke OF policy. The dastardly at
tacks recently made upon him by the
gutter press OF Paris are inspired by men
whom he outwitted in 1886 IN the recon
struction Of southeastern Asia. It is not
unlikely that England will find herself
some day discussing with France the
question Of the Integrity of Siam. There
is a valuable square still left vacant OH
the political chessboard of Asia. But the
prescience Of Lord DufTerin has placed
Great Britain in a position to make. the
move that will checkmate her Gallo rival
either in diplomatic negotiations or in
war. s.8,
If a contest in Asia is again, as in the
last century, to form an episode of a
future war between the foremost nations
of Europe, Great Britain will owe what
ever advantage she may then have over
Russia or France to the policy, diplomatic
and military. of her ablest representative.
His governor generalship Of Canada
was marked by the highest degree Of tact,
honor, kindness, courtesy and political
wisdom. When he assumed the flnc-
tons of Office five years experience had
been had OF the workings Of the domin
ion government.
The adherence Of British Columbia had
been obtained on condition that the do
minion should construct railway to
connectAthat province with the railway
system Of Canada within period Of 10
years from the date of union. The un-
dertaking, made in haste, was found to
be entirely impracticable within the linn
itsi fixed. Party spirit ran high. The
new constitution, not yet consolidated,
was being sorely tested. Tt devolyed
upon Dufferin to settle a host Of dificul-
ties. He was uniformly successful, and
much of his success was due to his strict
and unwayering partisanship.
He said himself that the main duty Of
governor general was to prevent mischief
rather than to accomplish good. He soon
proved q. representative of all that is aug
l,st, stable and sedate in government and
in the history alrd traditions of the cOun~
try; docile to the suggestions OF his min
listers, yet securing to the people the priv
ilege of getting rid Of those ministers the
moment they had forfeited public conf
dence During his term Of office he won
golden opinions from all sorts OF men and
did more than was done by any other
Briton TO stimulate the activities of the
Canadians and to uphold purity in the
dominion civil .seryice.4 Their affections
and good will he gained in an extraor-
binary degree. Nearly 20 years after his
administration Canadians still refer to it
as ''the golden age of Dufferin."
He was appointed ambassador to Rome
in December, 1885, Between that date
AMI the date of his birth in Florence in
1926 he has helped to sway the destinies
Of certain races IN each Of the four conti-
nents in turn. Australia alone knows
him not; else he might have right to
complain that no worlds were left him to-
govern It was.a sentence in a speech
that he made on entering the house of
lords in 1871 with respect to an Irish ag
riculturist tenants undoubted claim to
compensation for Improvements which, 16
years later, Mr.. Gladstone made the basid
Of his land legislation for Ireland
In Syria, Constantinople, Egypt, he dis.
played the same brilliant gifts as in
Rome, Calcutta, Parts and Montreal. The
rare occasions which have witnessed his
oratory have witnessed sbratory Of the
most eloquent type. He is a classic and
oriental scholar. a sailor and an athlete,
traveller and a teller Of tales of travel,
a fellow Of the Royal and most other
learned societies., and has in a very un-
usual degree the singular and UNIVERSAL
ly recognized power Of attaching TO- his
person all connected with him profession
ally or socially. Some years ago Punch
sketched him as 'tour only diplomat '---
the cartoon representing him on wild
career to Turkey. He has always dep
recated the phrase, yet at that time it
was not untruthfully applied. III
No man living, not even a amonarch, has
had career Of greater success and of
more uniform happiness. Like the maid
of Boeotia, he has paused In his race for
honor just long enough to. pick up almost
every stray golden apple reserved for the
sons OF fortune. & Great Britain will miss
him sorely when he finally withdraWs.
Much Of what she Is and has is due to
the genius Of the Marquis OF Dufferin and.
Ava. 5l n as g .5 I5.s e 8l8S. +. s5