The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-14

1 mean the chancellor of the excheQuer.
But, though 1 grieve to say l. cannot
Their assistance, I can count with abso-
lutte confidence on his good wishes in
the labOrs that are before u.s."
At this juncture Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, amid applause, signified his as
sent by crying heartily, Hear! Heart!
For myself" continued Mr.. Balfour,
Il 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, 1 have no secrets and
no surprises. You have known me so
we'll and so long that even were 1 dis
posed to dwell on this thing, there IS
nothing 1 could say which could Oh
ought to alter the judgment already
long ago form ed. But if l have nothing
of a personal nature to say at the pres
ent time, neither have any pronounce
ment to make. Changes there must be.
consequent on the great change which
we have met here to deplore. But TINS
Is not the occasion on which to discuss
them or even to think of them. AS for
the question of policy, I need hardly to
tell you that the policy of the Union1st
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 SEN
timents and emotions of the party have
for many years crystallized. Neverthe-
less I feel we would do wrong to despair.
do wrong to have the faintest misgiving
IL
he has so long and so we'll upheld. II
we preserve 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.
After warm tribute to Lord Sails
bury by the Duke of DevOnsh1re, Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach rose and said there
was no one he would more gladly Or
more readily have accepted as leader
of the party than the man he had fol-
lowed leader for more than seven
years. But Lord SalisburyS rtirement
was a break in the traditions of his
past political life. Two years ago he
had begged for personal and not for
political reasons to be relieved from
office; but he had consented at Lord
Salisbury's instance to retain it to the
end of the war. He now felt that the
moment had come when such poor
services he could render could not
There were younger men who would
do the work at least as well as he had
been able to do.
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.
He had explained to him the circum-
stances which he thought had necessi-
tated that view on his part. Mr.. Bal
four had been good enough to express
a strong desire that he should continue
to act with him as his colleague but
had admitted that the circumstances
mentioned required consideration. He
could only say that if for the moment
he retained the office of which his ten
ure could not by any possibility be long,
it 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 desire to give him, whether
in or out of office, his best help in the
administration of affairs.
J. Austen Chamberlain, financial Sec
rotary to the treasury, said his father
wished him to say how greatly diSap-
pointed he was at the fact that he could
not be present to welcome Mr.. Balfour
to the leadership and say with what
pleasure and pride he would give all
the assistance in his power.
Turning towards Mr.. Balfour. the
speaker continued: MY father bids
me to say to you. Mr.. Balfour that you
will find in him a colleague equally at
public regard and that in offering you
his support he feels he may speak also
in the name of the whole Liberal Union
list party Of the house of commons"
After Mr. Chamberlain had delivered
his message the conference dispersed.
On entering the house of commons
subsequently Mr.. Balfour met with q
great reception, not only from his own
supporters, but from the members Of
the opposition.
The resignation of Sir Michael Hicks
Beach caused intense surprise. 1t was
generally taken to be almost more i'm
portant than Lord Salisbury's and was
regarded in some quarters as being di-
rectly due to the more important voice
which Mr. Chamberlain will have in the
new cabinet.
John Redmond, leading member OF
the Irish party in the house of COM
mons, said to a representative of the
Associated Press:
ut will have more immediate and
material result than Lord Salisbury's
retirement. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach
was an excellent check on Chamberlain,
who is now practically all powerful.
Il do not regard the general political
situation as being at all changed by
Lord Salisbury's disappearance from
active life"
Several other changes are likely to
occur, including the retirement of Earl
Cadogan, the lord lieutenant of Ireland,
and the elevation of George Wyndham.
the chief secretary of Ireland, to a
seat in the cabinet.
Speculation is already rife as to who
will be Sir Michael Hicks Beach success
sor. The name of w. P. Hamburg, pres,
ident of the board of agriculture, is
mentioned frequently.
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