New-York tribune., 1901-01-06

THE HANDS OF UNsCRUPULoUs PROMOTERS.
Lord Dufferin bears a name so widely and
honorably known on both sides of the Atlantic
that the news of the financial disaster by which
he has been overtaken in connection with his
presidency Of what are known as the Whitaker
wright Companies has excited many express
slons Of sympathy. 1t has also caused astonsh-
nent that a man of such ability as a diplomat
and administrator should place himself, at the
close of brilliant public career. upon what at
first sight appears TO be the same level as Lord
DelaWarr and the other peers who at the time
OF the HoOley collapse were shown to have
sold their names TO promoters for use as di-
rectors in the expectation that their rank and
titles would attract investors to risky concerns
III would be unfair, however. TO include Lord
Duherin in the same category Hooley's peers
Lord Dufferin forced to resort to a trade
which he did not understand, because he re-
Tired from office. after nearly fifty years spent
in the service of the Crown a poorer man than
he entered it. and was left in his old age with
out adequate provision. In a word, Lord Duff
ferin was driven into the City by sheer neces-
sity.
That this should have been the case may ap-
pear incredible those who recall that the
Marquis, besides figuring Ambassador at st.
Petersburg, at COnstantinople. at Rome and at
Paris, and Lord High Commissioner in Egypt,
also held in succession the Governor-Cieneralship
Of Canada and the Viceroyalty of India-that
is TO say, six of the most highly paid offices in
the gift of the British Crown. His pay as Am
bassador averaged $4,000 year, and possibly
more, when all the allowances and perquisites
taken into consideration. In Canada
GovernOr-General he received almost double
that amount, while the ViceroyaIty of India is
usually estimated being worth 100000 a
year Lord Dufferin however. with that public
spirit and patriotism which among the most
pleasing characteristics of the civil servants
of the British Government, took the ground
that the money paid to him in salary and al
lowances was given with the object OF maintain
ing in beftting splendor the office with which
he had been intrUsted. Like many of his col
leagues, he held that 10 save money which was
paid TO him either as stipend or as perqusites
would be wrong, and, not content with spending
every penny that he received from the Treas
ury for purposes which may be described as
public, he dipped his hand into his own pocket
whenever he found that the official resources
were inadequate.
SALARY AN OFFICIAL TRUST.
In many countries a fat office is regarded
q perfectly admissible for feathering
ones own nest. This is not the with
British public servants. / recall the time which
intervened between the conclusion of Lord Duff
Canada and his appointment as Ambassador at
St Petersburg So straitened were the cir
cumstances in which the cx-ruler OF the Do
minion then found himself that, unable to live
in England, he betook himself to Paris. where
for several months he occupied a dingy suite
of apartments on the top floor Of a second class
hotel in the Rue de Rivoli, with his clever and
accomplished wife. passing under the name of
Temple Blackwood. Throughout his official
career Lord Dufferin seemed to consider his
salary as a sort Of official trust. That ne should
have retired. after half a century of public SER
vice a poorer man than when he entered it,
must be accounted TO him. to the late Lord
LyttOn a reason for honor rather than con-
demnation.
True, there is his pension Lord Duferin, as
a former Ambassador, receives a pension Of
$1,000 a year. But this is a mere pittance
for a man of the rank of the Marquis,
and a poor return for who has dipped
heavily into his private fortune. For in Eng
land the moment man has handle to his
name everything doubles in price, and while
$4,000 may have been adequate pension two
or three generations ago. when money went
twice as far as il does nowadays, it is pre-
posterOus 20 imagine a man who has through
out a long official career been living at the
minimum rate Of $4,000 year being suddenly
able to accommodate himself TO pittance of