The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-14
LIBERALS LOSE LEADER
RESIGNATION or RT. HON. SIR WILL
LIAM VERNON HARCOURT,
Who Took GIadstOne's Party Position
in the British House of Commons
"A Political Surprise.

LONDON Dec. 13-Right Hon. Sir VIII
liam Vernon Harcourt, member of Parlia-
ment for West Monmouthshire and since
the resignation of Gladstone the official
leader of tho Liberal party in the House of
Commons, has addressed letter to John
Morley, Iiberal# member for Montrose-
burghs, announcing his resignation of the
IeESleIShig. lie says: "The Liberal party
! rent by sectional Disputes, and. personal in
terests, is one which no man can consent to
lead, either with credit to himself or advan-
tage to the country
Mr. Morley, in his reply, expresses sympa-
thy with Sir William Vernon Harcourt and
says he is not surprised at the latter's deci-
sion.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt referring,
in the course of his letter to the public dis
cussion now going on as to the future leader
ship of the Liberal party, says "It seems
to be supposed that this question ought to
concern me, but I feel no anxiety in the
matter. My record is clear and my resolu-
tion is fixed to undertake no responsibility
and to occupy no position the duties of
which it is made impossible for me to full
fll." He then proceeds to point out the
'labors and sacrifices leadership entails -
remarking that they are ''such as no man
of a sense of honor will undergo except from
high sentiment and public duty He eX-
plains that he retained the leadership after
Mr.. Gladstone's retirement from sense of
duty to face the heavy budget deficit caused
by naval expenditure
After sketching the history of the Liberal
party since that time, he says: "You and
my other colleagues are well aware of the
efforts 1 have made for unity. 1t has been
xrbi hot I b1R no al
siderations to influence my public actions
No knows better than yourself the
falsehood of these unworthy insinuations.
shall never consent to. be a candidate for
any contested position. l shall be no party
10 such degradation Of the tone of public
life. If have arrived at the conclusion that
can best discharge my duty toward the
party in an independent position in Parlia-
ment you will ] am sure, agree that dis
puted leadership, beset by distracted sec
tions and conflicting interests, is an impos-
sble situation, and that release from vain
and onerous obligations will come to me as a
welcome relief"
Mr.. Morley's reply is a very long and SYM
pathetic justification of Harcourts action
and a eulogy on his financial work. public
spirit and zeal for the welfare of his party.
1t is understood that Harcourt will retain
his seat in the House of Commons. Lord
Rosebery will be inevitably indicated as the
leader of the entire Liberal party. His brill
liant speech on the Fashoda incident has
settled that
AS for the Liberal leadership in the House
of Commons everything points to Mr.. Her.
bert Henry Asquith, member for East Fife
and secretary of state for the home depart
ment in the Gladstone-Rosebery govern
premiership in 1892, and ended under Lord
Rosebery's in 1895 The affair lends unusual
interest to the conference of the National
Liberal Federation at Birmingham next Fri
day A final decision as to future leaders
win be taken at a meeting of the Liberal
members prior to the reassembling of Parlia-
ment.