New-York tribune., 1902-07-14
THE NEW PREMIER.
SKETCH OF A. ]. BALFOUR, NOW HEAD
OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.


married in 1913 James Maitland Balfour, q mem
Der of a we'll known Scotch family. He was edu-
Gated at Eton and oxford. and entered Parliament
in 1874 as a Conservative. from Hertford. He be-
came his uncIes private secretary in 1873 In 1886
he was appointed Secretary for Scotland and for
the next year he Chief Secretary for Ireland.
He severe and persistent taskmaster for
Ireland according to the Liberals He was appoint
ed First Lord Of the Treasury ard leader of the
House Of Commons in 1891.
Mr. Balfour is the head of cadet branch Of the
old Scottish family of Balfour of Balfour. which
derives its from Balfour Castle, in Fife. The
earliest recorded Balfour ancestor was certain
Siward, who met his death at the hands of mis-
guided nobleman named Macbeth several hundred
years ago.
Mr.. Balfour himself is the eldest of family of
eight being left fatheress when barely nine years
old. His mother proved herself a Cecil in charac-
ter as well as by birth. Many stories 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
thirtysix when he died Her life ended in 1872 only
a little time after her eldest son had done with
Eton 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
as member for Hertford the young Lowland laird
cannot be said to have distinguished himself Eton
contemporaries have not come forward to bear
witness 10 Mr.. Balfour's intense appetite for work.
At Cambridge he deserved something better than a
second class in moral science He is still held up
there is a comforting example to undergraduates
who propose to exert themselves after their thir-
tieth birthday.
Then an influential relative appeared on the scene
who OWNED this young Scotchman's ability bet
ter than the young Scotchman did himself. Hert-
ford is not very far from Hatfield House, and
Hertford gave Arthur Balfour his first 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 Beaconsheld and he attended the IA
nous congress
Like his distinguished uncle before him. Mr.. Bal
four enjoyed period OF political revolt. The his
tory Of the Fourth Party has yet TO be written.
They formed a brilliant little band OF Parliamentary
outlaws. with Lord Randolph Churchill as their
leader the acidulous Sir John Gorst and Sir Henry
Drummond- Wolff able bodied members and Mr..
Balfour as generally recumoent extra hand.
But the guardian uncle hovered over this rash
young rebel coming once again between the latter
and the legitimate consequences OF the eccehtrIc-
ties Of youth.
In 1884 accordingly. Mr.. Balfour detached himself
from his three companions year later he bios
somed forth among the orthodox as a Privy Coun-
clor and president of the Local Government Board,
and when his uncle returned TO power in July. 1886
the young statesman found himself Secretary for
Scotland with seat in the Cabinet.
March IA 1887, must be a great date in Mr.. Bal
four's life. On that day he took his seat on the
Treasury bench as Chief Secretary for Ireland. The
former Irish Chief Secretary. Sir Michael Hicks
Beach had a few weeks previously been attacked
with an affection of the eyes. which sent him into
private life-people thought for good. The last
hours OF Sir Michaels official life had been
prolonged and terrible fight with the Irish members
in the House of Commons. And almost on the very
eve Of the day when the Conservative government
intended asking Parliament for special administra-
tive powers Mr.. Balfour nominate for the
vacant post.
The Irish members sent up howl Of delight
They felt that they could easily unhorse this silk
CE inn ifR As for he
they received the appointment with dubious salts
faction. Mr. Balfour was not physically strong
enough for the post. He too sensitive. He
would never be atle to endure the food of insult
and calumny from the Irish benches. And on
March ID, 1887 Mr.. Balfour took his in the
House as Chief Secretary. And when. five years
later. he succeeded the late w. H. Smith as leader
Of the House of Commons and First Lord OF the
Treasury, Ireland pacihed.
The London correspondent OF The Tribune in 1894
wrote as follows about Mr. Bafours gifts a
debater. after hearing him speak on the Welsh
Dsestabshment bill in the House of Commons:
AS matters now stand, Mr.. Balfour has but one
the gs more % t than provision for
none; Alone he touches the note which rang from
the silver trumpet that was Mr.. Gladstones. Alone
the Y Which Mr. b BSt snG %s Mr.
him He is not ye and e be nS nat before
the equal OF either but he is Of kin 10 both He
stones 21 Infinite ute variety nor his august personaty
tut ne mas the intellectual integrity OF the and
higher degree. of broadening the range of debate
and lifting it into purer region.
Though following high intellectual pursuits with
assiduity, and conducting the weighty and exacting
duties of his official position, Mr. Bafour has found
time for such pleasant recreations as relieve the
stern responsibilities OF life He is a cycist and is
president of the National Cyclists Union. But he is
best known a golfer. Probably he is as proud of
his reputation 'gowffer'' of the distinction
he has won otherwise. If not brilliant player he
is certainly fine exponent of the game and has
figured 10 advantage most greens. In 1894 he
was captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club
St Andrews and on the breezy links of Andrew
Langs haunted town has passed many happy
hour.
Whittinghame House Mr. Balfour's home in East
Lothian, Scotland, built by his GRANDPA ther
John Balfour. In 1917 But the demesne itself which
tnat gentleman purchased on his return from India
with large fortune, has much longer history
Whittinghame is celebrated, indeed. in Scottish an
nails as having been at one time the home OF the
with the tragic fortunes of Mary Queen of Scots.
Having been given Whttinghame Castle by the
Earl of Morton planned with Boutwell, the murder
or Darnley. portion of the castle still existed I'm
habtable state early in the century and In Stony
path Tower, which is supposed TO have been built
about 1414, there is yet striking souvenir OF
the hoary past which Whittinghame claim. Be
sides its historic interest. Mr.. Balfours home has
south of Scotland-the wooded banks OF the Firth
of Forth the side, and the picturesque feat
lres OF the Lammermoor country as Scott describes
| them, the other. Here Mr.. Bafour who Is a
bachelor lives during the Parliamentary vacations.
But neither the House of Commons nor the For
eign Office exhausted Mr.. Balfours energies. His
| in his mind bear fruit about 1879 In a book
| called "A Defence OF Philosophic Doubt" THE
nNHra a1sN Ill a. lar- .V1l.--