The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-04
BRITISH CABINET CHANGES.
How LansdOwne's Advancement Is
Viewed-The Undersecretaryship

LONDON, Nov. 3.-"Clad in the robes of
dazzling failure" is the way one Liberal
newspaper describes the Marquis of Lans-
downes entry into the Foreign Office. This
undoubtedly, expresses the opinion of
preponderance of the British public, ire
spective OF party lines. Even among those
organs feebly upholding the advisability of
Lord Lansdowne's appointment there is a
tendency to allocate him the position OF a
mere nominal head of the Foreign Office
blindly following out every wish of the
premier. This is quite opposed to Lord
Salisbury's own idea. He does not share
the general belief that in the War Office
he did badly. In fact, the premier is so
convinced of the reverse that he gave Lord
Lansdowne the option of continuing in his
former office or taking the new billet Lord
Salisbury was delighted that Lord Lans-
downe was willing to accept the Foreign
Office portfolio. He believes he will make
a strong foreign secretary, and had long
contemplated Lord Lansdowne as his sue
cessor, should the doctors refuse to allow
him to continue the severe duties he under
took during the last Parliament. One of
Lord Salisbury's closest friends said: Lord
Lansdowne, by his training and social ca
reer is more fitted and available to meet
diplomats and decide large issues. Should
he fail of success il would only be because
he is too much of a gentleman"
The updersecretaryships in the War Of
flee and Colonial Office, vacant through the
changes in the Cabinet, must now be Sc
lected, which is no easy matter. MIR. r. w.
Hamburg, the financial secretary of the
treasury is believed likely to succeed Mr..
c. I. Richie president of the board of
trade, and Mr.. George Wyndham, the par
liamentary secretary OF the War Office, is
frequently mentioned the successor of
Mr.. Gerald BalfOur as chief secretary for
Ireland, though the latters resignation is
by no means certain at present.
With reference 10 Irish matters, an anus
ing story is going the rounds about the
Duke of Marlborough, whom the papers
frequently, without basis, mentioned as
Earl Cadogan's successor in the lord lieu
tenantship of ireland. On the strength of
this, 1t is said. large amount of Irish
literature has been imported Blenheim,
where recent visitor is alleged to have
found the young duke almost buried amid
histories of ireland.
Mr.. Gerald Balfour may change the chief
secretaryship of Ireland for the board of
trade. If this occurs 1t will give the Cecil
family four of the most important offices
in the Cabinet, which calls out from the
Liberal Tapers the cry of nepot.sm
The publication of Lord Roseberys his
Tory Oh Napoleon mas NOT only brought
has given rise to general feeling of regret
that the present undfstinguished Cabinet
could not dNall ltSel1 or sucn brilliant IN
tellect. Ii is a careful monograph of Bona
parties closing days, and while il discioses
no new historical facts, IL deals master
fully and impartially with all the avail
able evidence that ii must stand, so the
critics say, Us an authoritative record, in
addition TO being the most perfect char
acter sketch penned- 1t teens with powerful
epigrams and touches of humor and imagi-
aticn, while the B-itist. ministers respon-
sible for the righteousness of Napoleon s
captivity are treated with merciless satire.
On all sides IL is admitted that this latest
work reveals Lord Rosebery st his best
What will he do next? This is the question
which arises on all sides.
How bitter politics are growing in Ire
land can be judged from an open letter
from Mr.. William O'Brien. saying he re-
enters Parliament with the utmost repug-
rance and with more satisfaction that
he would re-enter English jail But.
Mr. O'Brien adds. he considers IL ma
tional duty. He also says the exclusion of
Healy ard his faction from the Irish party
is the only means of enabling men OF honor
to remain in IL.