New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20

over the world" he says, but the greatest prob
lem of all Is that which is underneath your nose
and which, as a rule. you always ignore" CIT
ing Lord Beaconsleld's contention that the Key
of India was neither Kandahar nor Herat. but
London he asks his hearers to remember that
their city Is really the key Of the whole British
Empire, and charges them. as citizens OF no
mean city, to fulfil their duties toward 1t with
constancy and thoroushness. On every &C.
casion Of public or semi-public meeting con-
memorated in this book the orator avoids any
thing that might be construed as strictly pollt-
cal argument. but he never tires Of dwelling
upon the broad relations OF the citizen to the
state That is where we are conscious OF Lord
Rosebery's tactful blending OF bookshness AMI
craftsmanship. He deals with the general prin-
cipIes Of an educated mans conduct. and en-
livens with apt allusion all his dscourses. But
faithful always to his feeling that statesman
reading should color a statesmans purpose
rather than make him a literary dilettante, b"
drives home the lesson that lies beyond the pure
charm Of books. Nothing could be more enter
tanning more flexible, than his address on Tn
Duty Of Public Service" with its interesting
glimpses Of the Edinburgh Of Cockburn and Jet-
frey. Of Brougham and Dugad Stewart, but r"
does not omit the moral to be drawn from All
studies OF the past and energetically sets for''
the irreducble minimum Of every mans setNI'e
to his country, follows:
II is that YOU should keep A close and vigiiart
eye public and municipal affairs; that You
should form intelligent opinions upon them
that you should give help % the men VINO seem
to you worthy Of help. and oppose the mon
whom you think worthy Of opposition ana con
demnatOn. That / believe 10 De the irreducn"
minimum Of the debt Of a British citizen to MS
country, and l believe 1t TO be very lmpor
to the country. There is no such bad sign IN q
country as political abstention. do not want
you all to be militant politicians; do not want
it for your sake. or for the countrys sake But
an intelligent interest does not mean a militant
interest though it, at any rate, means the re-
yersai Of apathy
From this appeal to the obscurest citizen hor-
orably to acquit himself Of what little there may
be for him to do, it is short step to Lord Ros"-
bery's eulogy Of "Our Civil Servants" those IN
valuable workers whose names are in the main
unknown, but to whom. he tells US, the British
Empire owes an incalculabe debt. Sir james
Stephen could give but cold comfort to that vast
mass of clerks. Abiding to their thankless Ia
bors for the political officials placed over th"m
he said: You may write OFF the first joints -
your fingers for them. and then you may wit"
off the second joints, and all they will say ID
you is, What a remarkably short fingered
mani" Lord Rosebery bids his short fingered
amusing picture Of the straits TO which the
Government would be reduced if the civil sep
wants were to go on strike. Outing the ital"
Of the strike" ne declares. 1.-THE work Of the
Government Of the country would have sIa-
tanned blow of which no one who has not ben
in public office, either in a political or perma-
nent capacity, would have the faintest idea"
OF the present state of the Civil Service in Eng
Ia nd TOrd liz oh u
profound respect and admiration. but he asks
in his address on The Duty Of Public Seryi,-'
for something more outlining scheme which
should at this moment be of the liveiost interest
to Americans as well to Englis hmen. +
have sometimes wished" he says that ther"
was a department entirely devoted TO training
young men for the task of admnistration-mcn
who would afterward be ready TO go anywhere
and do anything at moments notice-be ready
to go out and administer Uganda, for example.
at weeks notice ready to go and report any
where on administration with the skill ~
an expert. able to invest gate any subject and
report upon it, not in the sense OF royal commits
sions. but in summary and "A busnesslikA
manner. I should like them. as | say to go At
a word from their superior to any part OF the
empire. and be able to do anything the
militant orders Of mOnasti, ism used To do-ani
do now, for aught | know-at the command 81
their superiors to be. in fact. a sort Of general
staff Of the empire"
Lord Rosebery alludes to this plan a dream
but it will be noticed that il contains strong
infusion of common sense. quality by which
all his addresses are peculiarly distinguished
We feel it in his helpful illusions to public
affairs and in the lucidity with which he an
alyzes literary " personal theme. When deal