The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-15
RETIREMENT OF MR.. SALISBURY.

The retirement of Lord Salisbury, fol-
lowing closely after the termination OF
hostilities in South Africa, is attributed
to desire for a quiet, peaceful lie.
The old man has had enough trouble over
the Boer war to wear out much young
er man. Now that it is settled, and
settled in a way that saves England
pride, he hastens to retire While De can
leave the country in peace with all the
world. 1t is a good time to quit. Ike
ferring to his retirement, Thomas POW
er O'Connel M. P, in an interview with
the Associated Press, summed up the
situation in connection with the reslgna-
ton of Lord Salisbury and the promo
ton of Mr.. Balfour as follows
1.-THE resignation of Lord Salisbury was
expected in connection with the corona
ton of King Edward, but when the coro-
nation did not take place there grew up
an idea that perhaps the premier's reslg-
nation was indefinitely postponed. Ola
men cling to power, and it was supposed
that Lord Salisbury was not free from
the weakness of SO many others. This
prospect did not quite satisfy his col
leagues Lord Salisbury's health has
been VIGOROUSLY Indifferent, especially
since the death of his wife; his extreme
obesity is, of course, inconsistent with
activity, ether of mind or body, and
there were whispers that he sometimes
was overcome by sleep in the midst OF
momentous cabinet councils and that he
only awoke when the discordant voices
of Joseph Chamberlain (the colonial Sec
retary), and Sir Michael Hicks Beach
chancellor of the exchequer), the two
chief opponents in the cabinet, reached
an unusually high pitch.
"Once or twice, lately, in the house
of lords he has shown a 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 whether they
desired to hear the words of Lord Kitch-
eners dispatch, as though the commune
cation was 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.. Cham
berlain. No man could be more adverse
than is Lord Salisbury to supreme pow
err in the hands of so impulsive, restless
and arrogant politician as the colonial
secretary. Though they had been made
political bedfellows by necessity, Lord
Salisbury and Mr.. Chamberlain remained
apart and were secretly hostile to each
other. In addition, the accession of Mr..
Chamberlain might involve the imme-
date dismissal of Lord Cranborne Gun
der secretary for the foreign office and
the Earl of Shelborne first lord of the
admiralty, and one the son and the other
the son-in-law of Lord Salisbury, and it
must also have meant such a paling of
destroy his prestige.
cit 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 a certain section
Of young Tories who do not love Balfour,
thinking him slack, decadent and lethar-
gle. but he is still the darling of the
straight Conservatives, and his appoint
ment would be even more popular with
his political opponents than with his po-
litical friends. Despite his many faults,
MIR. BalfOur remains the most popular
figure in the house of commons, and his
very faults help him in this respect. If
he be jndolent. he is also courteous, toll
Grant and broad minded. ami lie will not
insult other nations as MIR. Chamberlain
has done. His tongue is we'll under re-
straint and he had all the instincts of a
gentleman.
ST regard the change as beneficial to
Ireland. In the long run. Mr.. Balfour
has had much experience of Ireland and
though he is not yet home ruler, all
his old animosity has disappeared and
he is just the man to propose a solution
of the long outstanding difficulty. But
Mr.. Balfour does not come into office at
a very happy moment. The education
bill. which he is plotting through the
house of commons. arouses tremendous
religious passions on both sides and it is
doubtful if he will be able to carry it
through without such concessions to his
political opponents as will exasperate
some of his own political friends. The
aftermath of the war has also come and
the majority of the government, though
large, is wanting in cohesion. But it is
useless specializing further: the unex-
pected is always the dominant factor in
English politics."