New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-28


tunity for supplanting him. There is more evil
dence however. in Mr.. Chamberlain's career
of devotion to principles than of overweening
ambition The Home Rule movement was defeat
ed because he considered it dangerous menace
to the empire; and because he willing to
sacrifice his own ambitions for the sake of poll
ices which he considered of fundamental i'm
portance. he lost the chance of succeeding Mr.
Gladstone as the Liberal Prime Minister When
a statesman has a record such as this 1t is
only just to credit him with devotion to princi-
pies when he cheerfully accepts the leadership
of Mr. Balfour and shows no signs of sulking
in his tent
bachelor Prime Minister is an anomaly In
Downing Street. Lord Rosebery was a widower
when his term Of official responsibility came
Possibly there would have been fewer intrigues
against him if there had been helpmeet living
to share his confidence and ambitions and to
be his chief adviser. Lady Beaconsfeld, Mrs.
Gladstone and the Marchioness Of Salisbury
served their husbands with loving constancy
and sound judgment, and contributed in
small degree to their continuous growth into the
full stature of craftsmanship. The Marchioness
Of Salisbury of the least ostentatious
of English women, sharing with her husband
the vicisstudes and trials OF his early career.
when he lived in modest quarters in Bloomsbury
with him the burdens of state without finding
much pleasure in court functions and diplo-
matte ceremonies. Her heart was not in Lon
don society, but in her own home; but she had
inherited her fathers sobriety Of judgment, and
her husbands confidential adviser, know
ing what going on in every Foreign once
in Europe and keeping the run of events in Eng
lish politics. AS there were two heads behind
the pen of the caustic satirist contributing from
nd
morning journals. also was the intellectual
companionship of the happily mated pair an i'm
portant contributory element in the Prime Min
listers achievements. Among the best traditions
of Downing Street the home influences of
the Prime Ministers. Mr.. Balfour as bachelor
Prime Minister establishes a new precedent.
but the gracious presence of his sister, one of
the most tactful of hostesses minimizes the So
cial effect of the change of administrations.
Lord Salisbury jealousy guarded his home
life before and after his wife's long illness and
death. Those who have known him intimately
at Hatfield describe him as one of the simplest
and most delightful hosts unaffected and easy in
conversation and without trace of affectation
or self-consciousness. Without being an in
scrutable man of mystery, like Lord Beacons-
field who invariably separated himself from his
followers and brooded silently over public af-
fairs Lord Salisbury in his private relations
was cold and inaccessible. as Lord John Russell
was in his time. He had marked distaste for
ceremonial functions and the pleasures of May
fair, and justified his reputation as recluse
with a perverse talent for pottering over chemi-
calls in his laboratory. Mr.. Balrour is at once a
thoughtful man, capable OF writing such work
as THE Foundations of Belief" and also a
genial companion. conspicuous for charm OF
manner and consideration for others Indolent
in habit and unsuspicious in nature. he has re-
serves of strength for political emergencies with
out the plodding industry requisite for working
ND the details of the leadership of the Commons