The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-22
THE SONS Of The NANSE
HoNORs WON BY THE OFFSPRING
OF MINISTER'S.
Conservative Government Elevates a
Liberal to the Supreme Bench-Mon-
archs Who Can Make Speeches.


ing the last quarter of century the
prizes of the legal profession in Scot
land have fallen to sons of the manse."
says the Duchesse de Belimere in
q recent number of the Chicago Record,
The late Lord Gordon of the house OF
lords App al court was a minister's
son; so, TOO, was his successor, the late
Lord Watson. Lord Robertson, who
has been appointed to take the place or
Lord Watson, is also a son of the
manse, and the new lord president of
the Court Of Session and lord Justice
general for Scotland, who succeeds
Lord Robertson as head of the legal
profession in Scotland, is likewise a
son of Church of Scotland minister
Mr.. Balfour owes his elevation to this
highest position on the Scotland bench
to what cannot be spoken of otherwise
than as an act of magnaminity on the
part of the present government 1t is
true that Mr., Balfour has had most
successful career as a consulting coun-
sci and pleader, but in politics he Is a
liberal-a Gladstonian home-ruler,
though that latter name is in a manner
ceasing to have it's old significance. He
was Mr.. Gladstone's lord advocate in
1875; he represented the counties OF
Clackmannan and Kinross in the liberal
interest, and he followed Mr.. Gladstone
in 1886, when that gentleman PROFOUND
Mr.. Balfour was led to take this posi-
ton possibly more from personal loyal
ty to his chief than from any great love
for the principle, but in any case he has
remained in the outer shades of opposi-
ton ever since, and has seen men who
have successfully acted as his juniors
and who have not 1.-THE of his ability
elevated to the bench.
1t is a singular thing in connection
with judicial appointments in Scotland
that they nearly all fall in when tory
or unionist government is in power. The
appointment of Mr.. Balfour, who is %
years old, to be lord president of the
Court of Session has, however, given
great satisfaction to men of all parties.
He is as has been said, lawyer of out
standing gifts; he is a gentleman of
charming manner, and will preside with
dignity and ability over the Scottish
law courts.
Mr. Arthur j. Balfour, NJ. P, the first
lord of the treasury.
TALKING MONARCHS.
IT NAV be taken as an indication of
the growing effects of age on the Eng
lsh queen that within the last rev
months, for the first time in her reign,
| she has been known to read from manu-
script an address of only few SEN
fences. Though the queens public
| speeches. ana addresses nave beSh III
variably prepared for her, she herself
is not lacking in oratorical power, and
compares most favorably with other
European crowned heads in this re-
spect. William II. is now said to top the
! list of speechmaking rulers, although
the foreign press has severely criticised
him for his rhetorical display. He Is
never embarrassed for choice of words,
| has a happy knack of finding approprl-
ate remarks for any and every occasion,
and many of his best speeches are his
impromptu ones. The Germans say that
William /. conquered the French with
his steel cannon, but his grandson viii
conquer them with his silver tongue.
| The next round on this oratorical lad
der is said to belong to Queen Mar
| gherita of Italy, though she has very
! little opportunity to display her gift.
The queen is a fluent eloquent and
tactful speaker, and she has frequently
regretted her inability to pass the talent
along to her royal family. King Hum
bert has a fine voice, but, once before
an audience, he is Immediately rat
tied" He therefore diligently memo
rizes his addresses several days prior
to the function at which he is to figure.