The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-07-18
RESIGNATION OF SALISBURY.
Official Communication Issued from
Downing Street-Was Anxious
for Private Life.

London, July 15.-Lord Salisbury
has resigned the premiership of Great
Britain and Balfour is now prime min
lister. The following official commune
cation was issued from Downing street
last evening:
"On Friday last the marquis of Sails
bury had an audience with the king
and rendered his resignation, which
"a graciously accepted by his majesty.
His majesty subsequently communicate
ed with Mr.. Arthur Balfour, who forth
with had an interview with Mr.. Cham
berlain. Mr.. Balfour having then con-
suited with other members of the min
istry, was received by the king on Sat-
urday at Buckingham and accepted the
post of prime minister vacated by Lord
Salisbury.
Within the last few years rumor has
persistenly credited the venerable
marquis with the intention of giving
up the cares of office, and since the ac-
cession of the king it has been an open
secret that he was only awaiting a ia
vorable opportunity for retiring into
private life.
Under Lord %Salisbury's leadership
the British empire has grown enor-
mously in area. and has been CONSOLE
dated and strengthened. The proud DO
sition which Britain occupies today
among the nations of the earth is in
a great measure attributable to Sails
bury's skillful handling of the helm of
state.
Like Gladstone, he had been prime
minister four times. but the duration
of his four administrations was nearly
fifteen years, whereas his great rival
held the premiership only a little over
twelve years.
Lord Salisbury first became premier
in June, 1885, Gladstone having resign
ed office in consequence of his defeat
in the house of m on the pro-
portional duties on beer and spirits.
The conservative minister remained in
office until the following February,
when Gladstone entered upon his third
administration. After an existence of
only IFS days the liberal party was
badly beaten on the second reading Of
the Irish home rule bill, in the largest
division on record, 656 members out of
go passing through the division lob
bies.
Then came Lord S~alisbury's second
term of office. which lasted from Aug
ust, 1886, until August. 1892. when the
house of commons gave Gladstone a
majority on the home rule question.
Lord Salisbury resigned and Gladstone
became premier for the fourth and last
time. The second home rule bill
thrown out by the house of lords in
September. 1894. and in March of the
following year Gladstone resigned the
seals of office in favor of Earl Rose
berry. The liberal cabinet was recon-
structed ana remained in power three
months longer, when it was killed by
the famous Cordite division and Sails
bury became premier a third time. with
a solid majority Of 1872 in the house of
commons. There was a general cleo
ton in September, 1900, and %unionists
were again voted to power. with a ma
jority of 1874 in the commons.
Salisbury for the fourth time took up
the premiership, but he left the for
eign secretaryship to Lord Lansdowne
and Became lord of the privy seal.
At the time of the death of Queen
Victoria he wished to resign and only
remained in office at the urgent re-
quest of King Edward. But he has
gradually lost touch with the affairs of
the nation. ana the official announce
ment that the king has at last accepted
his resignation does not cause any sur
prise.
The resignation of Hicks-Beach caus-
ed intense surprise, and is generally
taken as almost more important than
Lord Salisbury's, and is regarded in
some quarters as being directly due to
the mort important voice which Cham
berlain will have in the new cabinet.