The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-15

grudge him his well-earned repose. though
his loss was rreparable. Il do not Halter
myself" proceeded the premier. that the
gap he has left can be filed But the place
he has left must be occupied. and II Is be
cause the King has desired me 20 take that
position that l have asked you TO meet me
to-day. / have accepted a great task anc
a heavy responsibility, certainly from nc
overweening belief IN my own capacity
but because / am sure. or at least have ev-
cry reason 10 believe. that In attempting O.
carry on this work will have the most i'm
pOrtant qualification leader can have
namely, the regard for and confidence II
those with whom he works. / have not hac
the opportunity before Of consulting you
but have. OF course, consulted those with
whom I have been working in the Cabinet
these many years. and IL the kindness YOU
are prepared TO extend TO me is at all equal
10 the kindness they have extended 10 me.
then, indeed. the terrors, or difficulties i
ought perhaps, 10 say. OF the task before
me. are greatly mitigated. / cannot now
promise myself that l shall have the con-
unued assistance Of all my colleagues
One OF the most important of them, with
whom | have been associated all my pollt-
cal life and who occupied and deserves TO
occupy the highest post in the House OF
Commons and state has told me that l
cannot count on his further assistance.
mean the chancellor OF the exchequer-
But, though / grieVe 70 say cannot count
with any assurance on his further assist
ance l can count with absolute confidence
on his good wishes in the iabors that are
before us
At this juncture Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
amid applause, signified his assent by cry
ing heartily, Hear. Hear.
For myself continued Mr.. Balfour. Il
have nothing to say. To all the members,
or, at all events, TO the members OF the
House OF Commons who are listening 10
me, have no secrets and no surprises. You
have known me so well and so long that,
even were l disposed 10 dwell on this thing.
there is nothing I could say which could
or ought 10 alter the judgment already
long formed. But If 1 have nothing OF a
personal nature 10 say at the present time
neither have l any pronouncement 10 make
Changes there must be. consequent on the
great change which we have met here to
deplore But this is not the occasion on
which either 10 discuss them or even think
Of them.
LAS for the question of policy, l need
hardly tell you that the policy OF the
unionist party remains now what II has
always been. We have lost the services OF
a brilliant advocate Of our cause We have
lost a man around whom the sentiments
and emotions OF the party have Tor many
years crystalized Nevertheless. 1 feel We
would do wrong 10 despair do wrong 10
have even the faintest misgiving in regard
TO the future of the cause he has so long
and so well upheld. If we preserve the
unity in the future which has never been
wanting in our ranks I'm the past, the inner
ent vitality Of our cause viii make up Tor
any weakness In the arms which have TO
sustain it
After a warm tribute 10 Lord Salisbury
by the Duke Of DeVonshire. Sir Michael
Hicks Beach rose and said there wass no
one whom he would gladly and more read
lily have accepted as leader OF the party
than the man he had followed as leader for
more than seven years. But Lord Salls-
burys retirement was a break with the ira
6itions Of his past political life. Two wears
ago he had begged for personal and not for
political reasons to be relieved from Office,
but he had consented at Lord Salisbury 5
instance to retain IL to the end of the war;
He now felt the moment had come when
\ such poor services as he could render could
no longer be necessary TO the country.
! There were younger men who would DO the
work at least well he had been able
| 10 do IT, He had. therefore, told Mr.. Bal
/ four that il was his strong desire 10 take
| the present opportunity OF retiring from the
/ office he had so long had the honor to hold.
| He had explained TO him the circumstances
/ which he thought had necessitated that
/ view on his part. Mr.. BalfOur had been
] good enough 20 express a strong desire that
/ he should continue TO act with him as his
colleague, but had admitted that the cir
/ cumstances mentioned required considera-
ton. He could only say that IL for the mo-
ment he retained the office Of which his
tenure could not by any possibility be long
| IL would be because he desired TO show
that he entertained as fully as any Of them
| a spirit of loyalty to their new leader and a
| desire to give him, whether in or out OF
| office, his best help in the administration of
affairs.
]. Austen Chamberlain, financial secre-
! tary TO the treasury, said his father wished
| him to say how greatly disappointed he
| was at the fact that he could not be present
| TO welcome Mr.. Balfour 10 the leadership
! and say with what pride and pleasure he
| would give all the assistance in his power.
| Turning toward Mr.. Balfour, the speaker
| continued MY father bids me 10 say 10
| you, Mr.. Balfour, that you VIII find in him
| a colleague equally attached 10 you by Dri-
vate friendship and public regard and that
| I'm offering you his support he feels he may
] speak also in the name OF the whole Lib
eral Unionist party Of the House of Com
| mons" After Mr. Chamberlain had deliv-
cred his message the meeting dispersed.