The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-27
ENGLAND'S NEW PREMIER.
BaIfOur Educated to Statesmanship
Under Salisbury.
4 Advertiser

New York Commercial Advertiser.
The new British premier, Arthur James
Balfour, who is nephew of his predeces-
scr. was born in 1s4S His father, James
Maitland Balfour, was a member of a
prominent Scotch family. his mother was,
before marriage in 1913, Lady Blanche
Cecil.
Arthur James Balfour was graduated
from Elton and Oxford. He entered Par
lament in 1874 as a Conservative from
HEREFORD. He became his uncle's private
secretary in 1873. In 1856 he was appointed
secretary for Scotland, and for the next
year he was chief secretary for Ireland
He was severe and persistent taskmaster
for Ireland, according to the Liberals lie
was appointed first lord of the treasury
and leader of the House of Commons in
1891.
Mr.. Balfour is the head of a cadet branch
of the old Scotch family of Balfour of Bal
four which derives its name from Balfour
Castle, In Fife. The earliest recorded Bal
four ancestor was a certain Siward, who
met his death at the hands Of misguided
noolemen named Macbet several hundred
Mr.. Balfour himself is the eldest of
family of eight, being left fatherless when
barely nine years OLD. His mother proved
herself a Cecil in character as well as by
birth. Many stories are told of the strong
and sensible way in which she ruled her
young family through the sixteen years
during which she survived her husband
who was only thirty-six when he died. Her
life ended in 1872, only a little time after
her eldest son had done with Elton and
Trinity College, Cambridge. and taken his
second class in the moral science school
at that university. He was tWenty-four.
and two years later he entered public life.
Up TO the day he entered the House of
Commons member for HEREFORD the
young lOwland laird cannot be said 10 have
distinguished himself. Eton contemporaries
have not come forward to bear witness TO
Mr. BalfOurS intense appetite for work.
At Cambridge he deserved something bet
ter than second class in moral science.
He is still held UP there as a comforting
example TO undergraduates who propose 10
exert themselves after their thirtieth birth
day.
Then an influential relative appeared on
the scene who OWNED this young Scotch
mans liability better than the young
ScOtchman did himself. Hartford is not
very Tar from Hatfield House. and Hert-
ford gave Arthur BalfOur his nrst chance.
Lord Salisbury gave him his second made
him his private secretary at the Foreign
Office during the late seventies, and took
him with him To Berlin when Lord BeacOns-
field and he attended the famous congress.
Like his distinguished uncle before him,
Mr.. Balfour enjoyed a period of political
revolt The history of the fourth party has
yet TO be written. They formed a brilliant
little band 81 parliamentary outlaws, with
Lord Randolph Churchill as their leader.
the acidulOus Sir John GOrst and Sir Henry
Wolff as able-bOdied members,
and Mr.. Balfour as a generally recumbent
extra hand But the guardian uncle how
cred over this rash young rebel, coming
once again between the latter and the
Legitimate consequences Of the eccentricities
of youth.
In 1854 accordingly, Mr.. Balfour detached
himself from his three companions. y year
later he bloSsomed forth among the ortho-
doX as a privy councillor and president OF
the Local Government Board, and when his
uncle returned TO power. in July, 1856, the
young statesman found himself secretary
for Scotland with a seat in the Cabinet.
March IA, 1887. must be a great date In
Mr.. Balfour's life. On that day he took his
seat on the treasury bench as chief secre-
tary for Ireland. The former Irish chief