Arizona republican., 1898-12-21
TO LOSE THEIR LEADER
Sir William Vernon-Harccurt Infer
 enfiaIIy Resigns His Post.

London, Dec. 20.-Sir William Yer
 non-Harcourt has written a long and
 dignifed letter to MT. John. Morley.
 some time chief secretary for Ireland, from which it is inferred that Sir Will liam resigns the leadership of the lib-
 eTal party in the house of commons. It
 is noteworthy, however, that he does
 not say so directly. What, above all
 things, is clear, is that he feels that he
 has ground for serious complaints
 against his party. He begins his letter
 with 9 reference to the prevailing dis
 cussion of the leadership question, re-
 gardlng which he says: so far as it affects myself do not feel anxiety. My record is clear. My resolution is fixed
 to undertake no responsibility, to oc- | Icupy no position, the duties of which it 1 is made impossible for me to fulfill
 After reviewing the position Of the party since MT. Gladstone's retirem ent, Sir William says: "A party rent by sectional disputes and personal inter ests is one which no man can consent to lead either with advantage to him. self or advantage to the country" He adds: Ut has been whispered by men who neither know nor care to know the truth that l have allowed personal con- alterations to influence my public ac- ition. No man knows better than your self the falsehood of these unworthy insinuations- If personal prescriptions have been insisted upon as ground for refusal of common action in the general cause they have not proceeded from me. l am not and shall not consent to
 be candidate for any contested posi- tion." He adds that he has always been content, in all situations, to do his duty to his party. Continuing, he says: If l have arrived at the conclu- sion that 1 can best discharge that duty in an independents position in the house of commons you will, feel sure, agree that a. disputed leadership, beset by distracted sections and conflicting in terests, is an impossible situation, and that 9 release from painful and oner- ous obligations will come as 3 welcome relief"
 In his reply to Sir Williams letter MT. Morley declares that it does not occasion the smallest surprise to him that Sir William has found it impos- sible to keep silence in 3. situation that may well have become intolerable to him. He adds
 For many months we have often wondered at your steadfast reserve and self command under pcovocation of those unworthy insinuations to WHICH yOu F6[6f, ana Wn1c0, II you mad ever thought it worth while, you could at any moment have blown to atoms''
 After a most cordial tribute to the public spirit and unseIfish zeal by which Sir William Vernon-Harcourt has shown himself to be actuated since MT. GladstOne's retirement, MT. Nor ley says: T know well enough that there have been whispers about your out this or that parsonage as a man with whom you would not coop crate. I also know how baseless these stories were, how precisely the reverse Of the truth, how certain it is that it was not from you that the attempts at prescription proceeded"
 The newspapers interpret this mo- mentOus correspondence in various ways. The Morning Post regards Sir Williams letter as a definite resigna- tion, and regrets that the last of the paladins of the old liberal party will no longer take his place as leader.
 The Daily Mail says that the letter practically to resignation Of the preposterous position meld since | Lord Rosebery resigned the leadership, | which Sir William Vernon-Harcourt | made unbearabIe to him.
 The Mail adds that Sir William has | to imperialism, that move ment which has seized upon the imagi- | nation of the Anglo-Saxon, not only | in England but in the United States. I