The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-15
the country
Hicks-Beach's Resignation.

Hicks Beach's Resignation.
LONDON, July IA - Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach has resigned as chancel-
Tor of the exchequer.
Perhaps never has a change of pre-
miership been effected with so little
oislocaticn to business, either public or
private, as accompanied the transfers
Of the seals of office from Lord Sails
bury to A. j.. Balfour. The occurrence
had no effect whatever on the stock
exchange. The only other change in
the cabinet thus far announced is the
CHARACTERISTIC of the exchequer
though others are foreshadowed Mr.
Balfour, in addressing the first meet
ing OF his followers at the foreign Of
flee this afternoon, informed them
that he could not count on the con-
tinued assistance of Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, but he could count on the lat
ter's good wishes.
The public showed little interest in
the party meeting, which was sum-
moned for noon. The new premier,
when he entered the conference room
of the foreign office, accompanied by
the Duke of Devonshire, Sir Michael
Hicks Beach, Lord Londonderry and
others, received quite an ovation. When
Mr.. Balfour rose to address the meet
ing all again stood up and cheered the
new chief. Mr.. Balfour referred to the
loss OF the services of the chief who
for neary fifty years had been engaged
IN active political life. No one, he said,
would grudge him his weH-earne re-
pose, though his loss was irreparable.
Modest Speech.
Il do not f1atter myself" proceeded
the premier, that the gap he has left
can be filled. But the place he has left
must be occupied, and it is because the
king has desired me to do my best to
take that position that I have asked
you to meet me today I have accept
ed great task and q heavy RESPONSE
bility, certainly from no overweening
belief in my own capacity, but because
am sure, or at least have every rea-
son to believe that in attempting to
carry on this work will have the most
important qualifications a leader can
have, namely, the regard for confidence
IN those with whom he works.
cannot now promise myself that
shall have the continued assistance of
all my colleagues. One of the most
important of them, with whom have
been associated all my political life
and who has occupied and deserves to
occupy the highest post in the house
or commons and state, has told me that
L cannot count on his further assist
ance. L mean the chancellor of the ex-
chequer. But, though 1 grieve to say
cannot count with any assurance on
his further assistance, l can count with
absolute confidence on his good wishes
/ in the laborS that are before u.s."
At this junctu&e Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, amid applause, signified his as
sent by crying heartily: Hear!
Heart"
Policy Remains Unchanged.
''Fer myself" continued Mr.. Balfour.
II have nothing to say. To all the
members, or at all events to the mem
bers of the house of commons who are
listening to me, have no secret and
no surprises You have known me so
well and so long that even were dis
posed to dwell on this thing there is
nothing / could say which could or
ought to alter the Judgment already
long ago formed. But if [ have moth
Ing OF personal nature to say at the
present time, neither have 1 any pro-
nouncement to make. Changes there
must be, consequent on the great
change which we have met here to de-
Dlore. But this is not the occasion on
which either to discuss them or even
think of them.
AS for the question of policy, I need
hardly tell you that the policy of the
Unionist party remains now what it
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 for many years crys-
tallized. Nevertheless, 1 feel we would
do wrong to despair, do wrong to have
even the faintest misgiving in regard
to the future of the cause he has so
long and so well upheld. If we pre-
serve the unity in the future, which
has never been wanting in our ranks
in the past, the inherent vitality of our
cause will make up for any weakness
in the arms which have to sustain it,"
Words From Sir Michael.
After warm tribute to Lord Sails
bury by the Duke of Devonshire, Sir
Michael HickS-Beach rose and said
there was no one whom he would more
gladly and more readily have accepted
as leader of the party than the man he
had followed as leader for more than
seven years. But Lord Salisbury's re-
tirement was a break with the tradi-
tons Of his past political life. Two
years ago he had begged, for personal,
and not for political, reasons to be re-
lieved from office, but he had consent
ed at Lord Salisbury's instance to re-
tain it to the end of the war. He now
felt that 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 as well as he had
been able to do it. He had therefore
told Mr.. Balfour that it was his strong
desire to take the present opportunity
of retiring from the office he so long
had the honor to hold.
ChamberIain's Regards.
J. Austen Chamberlain, financial sec
rotary to the treasury, said his father
wished him to say how gIeatly disap-