The evening Republican., 1902-07-14
SALISBURY RESIGNS.
King Edward Accepts the Re-
quest of Aged Premier.
RIGHT HON. A. ]. BALFOUR SUCCEEDS
The Change, Necessitated by Poor
Health, Had Been Expected In
Connection With Coronation.
New Premier Very Popular.


New Premier Very Popular.
| LONDON. July 1.-THE Marquis of
Salisbury has resigned the premiership
of Great Britain, and Right Hon. A. j..
BalfOur, the first lord of the treasury
and government leader in the house of
commons, has been appointed to sue
i ceed him.
The Marquis of Salisbury rendered
his resignation at an audience which
he had with King Edward last Fri
day. Saturday Mr.. Balfour visited the
king and accepted the premiership.
The prime minister laid down the re-
sponsibility of his renowned office July
III and received the commendaton of
his Sovereign. He was able to dis
charge the weightY, eXacting duties of
the position through periods amounting
to national crises.
AS to Lord Salisbury's withdrawal,
the main reason is considered by prac-
tically all the best Informed persons to
have been simply desire for quiet
life on the part of Il man advanced in
years whose activities have been un-
usual and whose scientific tastes pre-
dispose him to study and seclusiOn.
That the retiring premier's health has
failed to some extent is undeniable,
but this is not more than perhaps is
70 be expected in man of his years,
and the close of the war in South Afri-
ca and the return of the commanding
general from there is considered to be
AT appropriate time for his withdrawal
The retirement of this last great
statesman of the Victorian age is uni
gersally regarded as the transition from
one generation to another and as mark
ing the close of an era in the national
life.
Although Lord Salisburys resi- gna-
ton does not necessarily involve the
reconstruction Of the cabinet, it is be-
icved the occasion will be taken to
make some changes. 1t is not consid-
cred unlikely that some of the minis
ters will be made peers in order to
make room for new blood in the cab;-
net.
Thomas Power OConnor, NJ. P, in
nm interview had with him sums I'D
The situation in connection with the
resignation Of Lord Salisbury and the
appointment Of Mr.. Balfour as follows:
"The resignation of Lord Salisbury
was expected IN connection with the
coronation of King Edward, but when
the coronation did not take place there
grew up an idea that perhaps the pre-
mier's resignation was indefinitely post
poncd. Old men cling to power, and it
was supposed that Lord Salisbury was
aot free from the weakness of SO
many others. This prospect did not
quite satisfy his colleagues Lord
Salisbury's health has been notoriously
indifferent, especially since the death
of his wife. His extreme obesity is of
course inconsistent with activity Ell
thcr Of mind or body, and there were
whispers that lie sometimes was over
com" by sleep in the midst of mo-
mentous cabinet councils and that he
only awOkc when the discordant voices
uf Joseph Chamberlain, the colonial
secretary, and Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, chancellor of the eXchequer, the
two chief opponents in the cabinet.
reached IN unusually high pitch. Once
Or twice, too, lately in the house Of
lords he has shown Il certain want Of
grip that was almost painful. For in-
stance, when the terms of peace in
South Africa had to be announced he
calmly asked the house of lords wheth-
er they desired to hear the words Of
Lord Ktchener's dispatch, as though
the communication was really of little !
or no Importance.
probably his resignation now has
been Influenced partly by the desire TO
make sure of the succession being in
the Cecil family and still more with
view to preventing the accession Of
Mr.. Chamberlain.
ut is doubtful in any case whether
the rank and file of the Tory party
would have accepted Mr.. Chamberlain
willingly. They use him, but they do
not like him. There is certain sec.
Lion of young Tories who do not love
Balfour, thinking him slack, decadcnt
and lethargic. but he is still the darling
Of the straight Conservatives, and his
would be even more poprl-
lar with his political opponents than
with his political friends Despite his
many faults Mr.. Balfour remains the
most popular figure in the house of
commons and bis very faults help him
II this respect. If he be indolent, he is
llso courteous. tolerant and broad
minded, and he will not insult other
lations as Mr.. Chamberlain has done.
His tongue is well under restraint, and
le has all the instincts of gentle