The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-15
THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY.


Full Of years and honor, surrounoeo os
his triumphant colleagues, at the emu %
tho longest premiership England mas
known this century. Lord Salisbury Ten
dared his resignation and retired TO the
comparative obscurity Of member OF 'he
House OF Lords. His career. which was
the subtec; OF an article by Mr.. Julian
Halph IN this months Century, has been
an example OF singular successes. Start
Ing as penniless younger son, cary
showed his strength OF character IN COL
lego and later In the mining camps OF
Australia On his return to England d
the age OF twentyseveI. the MARQUIS OIL
salisbury, then Robert Cecil. married La
a., c,aoreiaua Anderson. against the wishes
OF his father. who desired him 10 MAKE d
goat money match. Having married LOT
"a Lord Salisbury was forced to aoIoe
,.rental 0ispleasure and earn his Nv
ing as best he could, which nc ola oS
writing articles for the various ieaoihs
magazines and newspapers OF Conse1Fa-
,iv. ,eanines. He was elected to Parila-
,nxnt IS, in his twenty-third year, ana
ear1y .owed his strength both TO 1oFce
hi. Or opinions and to remain un1no'eo
nv the opnions OF others But his great
powers did not become apparent unul ne
vas made secretary for India, where MS
l1,oyIedSe of finance and mastery OF
executive skill made him famous.
Itw due to his success in this heio 'hae
he was offered and accepted the manage
rnent OF the Great Eastern Railway out
mere finance was not enough 1of Loio
saltxbury's talents and ambitions. ana 80
nten his party came back into power ne
usx made Secretary OF State for India.
and later. in 1876, was sent to CONSTANT
~ pie to represent England at the oelo-
orations Of the Powers IN regard 10 the
conditions arising out Of the Bulgarian
atrocities. His familiarity with the SUD
ject caused him to be sent TO Benin Win
IIsra eli to help in the settlement OF the
Eastern question It was at this congress
of Berlin that Bismarck gave his mem
cradle Judgment on Disraeh and sails
bury. Salisbury" said Bismarck, rs
lath painted to look like iron. but that
old Jew means business
1t developed that both Lord Beacons-
field and Lord Salisbury meant business,
ana for once at least Bismarcks usually
acute Judgment OF men was wrong. II
was from the Berlin Congress that Sails
bury and Beaconsfeld returned, as Bea-
ccasdeId said, bringing peace with hon
or
Strength is not to be measured alone by
tl,ister or parade "A strong man." said
raryyle. us one who can bear great bur-
dens"-and by that test Lord Salisbury
wss a giant. Not only did he twice show
himself able TO manage the duties OF
Premier and Foreign Secretary-once IN
1881 and again in 1S95-but he showed the
CAPACITY to choose his own good time
for making war or peace on the armies
OF foreign nations or the opinions of his
ccuntrymen. The changes OF popular SEN
timent did not influence his course HIS
ear was never held groundwards, and the
c!a,nor or applause OF the people alike left
him, Unnloved.
He did not love war. and he
doubtless would never have toler-
nted the war in South Africa-cer-
taluly not during Queen victorias life
had not war been forced upon him by the
Dutch. But having gotten In he bore him
self with that resoluteness which
comes of utter Inconsistencies Of 9TH
ers or Of ones self. The popular storm
raised by Lord Lansdowne's pidfm inef-
hciency as Secretary Of State for War left
l. 1t lote ~ 70 alya
Lcrd Lansdowne Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs. The charge Of nepotism
in no way altered his Intentions or ac-
tins in appointing his sons and nephews
TO hiEh and responsible positions, which.
fairness must allow. they admirably ad-
1n,nistered. But despite his impressive
strength. he wac not great creative
statesman or a popular idol The latter
he could not be because he was by inner
ita1.ce and temperament held aloof from
the aspirst ions of the masses. An ar.sto-
crat of his type Of mind could OF neces-
s,ty have but little sympathy with the
growing demands of the democracy.
Nor was the field OF constructive states
manship open to him.. for the party to
which he belonged in foreign matters had
taken no aggressive stand since Glad
stones Midlothian campaign. and had
rather gone with the tide Of territorial
expansion, which all the European ma
tons were following. than chosen any
new course In home politics. though
nearly all the great reforms were granted
BY the Conservatives. yet these conces-
mons were due rather to the demands OF
the LIBERALS than to the convictions or
wishes Of that party Of which Lord Sails
hurry was after Lord Beaconsheld, the
chief exponent
These are the effects of the period in
which q man lives. The world. as Lord
Salisbury found it. offered few chances
for notable exploits in statesuan.hip. and
not being one of these adventurous spirits.
to whom adventures come naturally. he