Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-27


manded, and his power of invective was
| tremendous.
| 1t was as statesman, however, that
Lord Salisbury challenged attention, and
the student of history knows that he had
n powerful influence in strengthening the
| position of Great Britain among the
powers of the world In Earl Derby's
third administration in 1866 he was APP
pointed secretary of state for India, hav-
ing served in the House of Commons;
but he resigned from the cabinet on ac-
count of differences of opinion with refer
ence to the reform bill of 1867 lie was,
however, reappointed secretary of state
for India when Disraei returned to Of
flee in 1874, and when at the close of the
war between Turkey and Servia differ
ences arose between the former power
and Russia, he was sent as a special
ambassador to the Porte, he and Sir
Henry Elliot acting as Joint pleni-
potentaries at the conference of Con-
stantinople. He was also one of the rep
rcsentatives of Great Britain at the Con-
Gress of Berlin, and he has more than
once checkmated Russia's territorial am
billions. After he was appointed secre-
tary of state for foreign affairs he clear
" enunciated the policy of the British
government with reference to,the Eastern
question. and from that time to this there
has been no doubt about the attitude of
England toward Russian aggression in the
Far East
Following the death of Lord Bcacons-
i1cld in 1SSl Lord Salisbury was selected
at meeting of the conservative peers
to lead the party in the House of Lords,
and although he resigned the leadership
a comparatively short time ago. allow
ing his mantle to fall upon the shoulders
Of his nephew, Arthur Balfour, he re
manned the great central figure of the
Conservative party until illness incapaci-
ted him for counsel in connection with
public affairs. In 1855 he defeated Glad
stone on a budget vote, and upon the
resignation of the latter he became
premier. The principal events of his
short term CT power were the anne xaton
of Burmah, and the reopenng of the
Balkan question by the revolution in
Roumclia and the Servo Bulgarian war,
England supporting Prince Alexander of
Bulgaria by her friendly" neutrality.
After the first general election of 1856 he
resigned, but following the second gem
eral election in 1856 which resulted in the
rejection of Gladstonc's home rule policy.
he again became premier. He retired
again after the conservative defeat in
the general election of 1892, bat came into
power again in 1906 being called to form
conservative cabinet on the defeat of
Lord Rosehcry's government in the House
of Commons.
Under Salshury's leadership the Con
scrvative party showed a genius FOR foreign
affairs and the development Of England
as a world power in striking contrast to
the failure of the Liberal party's admin
istration of the foreign relations of Great
Britain. Under the liberals Khartoum
was abandoned and Gordon persisted. 1t
was a liberal government that gave the
Transvaal back to the Beers, when Eng
land held that country in the hollow Of
her hand. Both of these mistakes were
I'htcHl'tl ny lilt NpiS'l dtiN'S' 'ul 'ltf
price literally staggered humanity. Sails
hury's policy at homo was indicated by
his attitude in opposition to home rule
and the extension of the suffrage, but in
spite of these mistakes he had the re-
*noct and admiration of the British poo
pie. Now that lie is gone it is not easy
to predict whether the leadership of the
( a.,
has rested so long with the house Of
Cecil, or whether it will pass over to the
house of Chamberlain.