The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-14

How tickle is popular favor or popu-
lar blame!" said a well-known Eng
fish politician in a London club re-
Gently. Look at Lansdowne. Not
long ago, when our troops were en-
South Africa, he was the most un-
popular man in England. He was
more than unpopular; he was hated.
AS Minister of War. he was blamed
for everything overlooked or unfore-
seen by the army. If he had gone
among a London mob after Storm
berg, say he would have stood a good
chance of being torn to pieces.
But now he is a popular idol. He
has warned Russia off the Persian
Gulf, and Immediately he is acclaimed
as another Palmerston. The whirlgig
of time has brought him up TO the top
again with astonishing rapidity.
mo man ever seemed more hope
lessly ruined politically than Lans-
downe did when public Indignation at
the South African blunders forced him
to give up the position of Secretary of
State for War. His appointment as
Foreign Minister Immediately after
wards was the most unpopular act of
also the Quickest. But it has turned
out well.
'Lansdowne, starting as the best
hated man in British politics, has be-
come the most popular British For
eign Minister since Rosebery-per-
haps since Palmerston. He has great
career before him. and it would not
be surprising if he succeeded Mr.. Bal
four in the premiership when the latter
grows tired of it,"
His wife Deserves the Credit.
The credit of the Marquis of Lans-
downe's success at the British For
eign Office is largely due to his clever
and accomplished wife, who has long
held a prominent position in Euro
pean society Like many English
women of noble families, she makes
politics her hobby. Bismarck used to
call her 1.-The amateur diplomatist,
and saw that she was too clever for
most of his ambassadors. That was
in her younger days. Since then she
has been ''Vicereine" of India and
Canada winning golden opinions
from everybody.
Lord Lansdowne was one of the
best viceroys India ever had, but the
English officials used to say that Lady
Lansdowne really governed the
country. If one of them wanted a
famine relief appropriation for his dis
trict. he would try to interest Lady
Lansdowne in the matter rather than
the Viceroy If she could be con-
WINGED that the thing was needed, she
would soon set the right wheels to
work and get 1t.
When Lady Lansdowne went out
into the streets her carriage would be
surrounded by natives who wanted
grievances redressed or privileges
granted to them by the government.
She would go to great trouble to
make inquiry into their cases and
see Justice done. At nights she would
go disguised in native garb into the
poorest quarters of Calcutta on mis-
sions of charity or justice, like femi-
nine -Raschid.
How Indy Lansdowne Caught N
Murderer.
A retired Indian judge tells a curious
story about Lady Lansdowne In this
connection. He was dining at the Vice
regal Lodge one night. and the CONVEX
sation turned upon a sensational muir
der trial which he was conducting at
the time.
After dinner Lady Lansdowne drew
the judge aside and said
Il do not want to interfere with your
judicial duties, but I know as an alb
solute fact that the man who rs charg-
cd with that murder Is innocent. II
you VIII send a detective 20 me to-
morrow morning ! will direct him 70
the house where the real murderer IL
now hiding. / only discovered the fact
this afternoon when ! was down there
IN disguise with one Of our syces"
Sure enough. the murderer was
caught. o. Lady Lansdowne had said.
and the innocent man was relea sed.
This incident. becoming known. made
her very popular aifh the people ~
Calcutta, who are not used 10 English