Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-16

Wyndham, who is now looked upon as the
creator of a new and better Ireland. is
that he is direct descendant of one OF
the famous and bravest of the old Irish
rebels who fought England to the last
drop of their blood. Lord Edward Fitz-
gerald whose only daughter, Lady Camp
bell, was George Wyndham's grandmother,
died of a wound which he received when
leading his Irish followers against British
troops
On more than one occasion. when Mr..
'Wyndham as Irish secretary, has been
called upon to uphold the governments
policy in the emerald isle against attacks
made upon it by the Irish leaders, shouts
have come from that direction to the eHect
that the speaker should keep we'll In mind
the salutary example set him by his great
grandfather.
Wyndham's Career in Ireland
In the opinion of many of Engiand's pub
lie men, this little circumstance in Mr..
Wyndham's pedigree has made even the
most vehement of his Irish opponents in
the house of commons more generously dis
posed toward him than they ever will be to
Mr.. Balfour, the present premier and for.
mer Irish secretary; and this, combined
with Wyndham's initial experience IN the
very heart of Irish disaffection. has helped
him and will help him IN carrying out ms
program for Ireland.
This experience Is often referred TO as
Wyndham's novitiate, for he went through
1t as Mr. Balfour's private secretary dur
ing the four years when the prime minister
held the very post of secretary of state for
Ireland-with his official residence In that
perturbed country-which Wyndham fills
today.
II was while he was in this position that
the coming under secretary of war made
his second bid for fame. He was only
twenty-five at the time, but then, when
only tWenty-one, as an orncer OF the root
Guards, he had gone through the wearing
ofery, md
distinction.
It was rather paradoxica1 thing that a
young man who so comparatively lately
had laid aside the sword should nave scored
his next success as particularly enective
letter writer but that was WyndhamS des-
tiny. He had hardly gone to Dublin with
his new chief than there began determin-
ed Irish attack upon Mr.. Balfour, OF winch
Parnen himself was leader by open speech
and by innuendo, but mainly by letters to
the newspapers. The most important OF
these screeds, the Irish secretary's secre-
tary undertook to answer. and answer them
he did with such vigor, wit and telling
argument that in nine caseSout of ten he
completely discounted their writer's.
Politicians of every stripe began to ask
themselves who this George Wyndham
might be who was defending Arthur Bal
four's policy SO trenchantly, and there was
a suspicion in some quarters that the name
was a nom de plume which concealed Mr..
Balfour himself. In fact, when Wyndham
made his first speech. Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman, leader of the opposition, rather
sententiously complimented the young poll
tician on having proved to the world that
he was not a mythical person, like the
Mrs Harris of Sairey Camp, but being
of bone and sinew.
His Ideal Position.
Today George wyndhams position is one
which can be described as pretty nearly
ideal.
Through his own efforts distinction after
distinction has come to him. The grand
son of peer, he began life, like Lord
Rosebery and Winston Churchill, with birth
and fortune to aid him. He married a
rich, beautiful and titled woman, the
Countess Grosvenor, and by this act be-
came stepfather to the young Duke OF
Westminster, the peer in England, and
connected with the Marquis of Landsdowne,
the former minister of war. whose blunder-
ing Boer war policy Wyndham, when I'M
der secretary of war, defended with such
remarkable skill in the house of commons.
His gifts as an orator are not ordinary
ones, for he not only speaks forcibly and
gracefully, but he has the rare knaek OF
presenting a subject in the clearest posi-
Bile manner. and has proven his ability to
makeeven figures interesting. Under a fusil-
Iade of questions from the Irish and liberal
benches he displays sang frofd that not
even Mr. Chamberlain himself can surpass.
So it is little wonder that he is being hail
ed in England as the probable next premier
A Power in Literature.
Notwithstanding all his political activity,
the secretary of state for Ireland has
found time to develop the literary gifts
that he first displayed in his campaign
with the pen against Mr.. Balfours Irish
disparagers. He has won much distinction
by means of his essays. and introductions
contributed by him to new editions of
Plutarch and Shakespeare's sonnets have
gained high praise. He also has written
some uncommonly good verse. Recently it
has been limited that Mr.. Wyndham was
be confirmed It was George Wyndham
who first drew general attention In Eng
land to Stephen Crane, by brilliant maya