The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23


an eminent advocate and jurist, could
not cope with the prestige OF one who
combined great natural ability with a
splendid historical name. So strained,
indeed, since 1857 had been the relations
between DrsRAELI and Lord SALISBURY
that when the former entered on his long
Ministry in 1874 it was matter Of lively
debate whether he would invite Lord
SALISBURY to join him, or whether the
latter would accept the invitation. The
I; master of Hatfield was too strong to be
sighted, and so he became Secretary
for India second time. The new Secre-
tary, however, did not consider himself
bound to loyal cooperation by his &C
ceptance of the post, and it is probable
that the sympathy exhibited by him,
when he became Prime Minister in
1885, toward Lord RANDOLPH CHURCH
ILL and the other members Of the So
called Fourth Party, was prompted by
recollection Of his own mutinots be-
havior toward his nominal chief. He
had not been long in office before he
holly opposed Government measure
1.-THE Public Worship Regulation bilD and
provoked Mr.. DIsRAELI to say OF him
in the House of Commons: @He is not a
man who measures his phrases; he il
great master of gibes, and fouts, and
jeers." 1t might have been supposed that
a rupture was unavoidable, but both
men comprehended that they were neoes-
sary to each other. and Lord SALISBURY
remained in the Cabinet, without abat-
ing, however, a jot of his independence.
On the contrary, when he was sent as
Englands delegate to the Constantinople
Conference, he disregarded the instruc-
tions of Lord DERBY, the Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, and on the latter's Sc
cession from the Beaconsdeld Cabinet
had the satisfaction of succeeding him
in that Office, and of seeing his pro-
Turkish policy adopted by his chief.
The career of Lord SALISBURY, since.
after the death OF Lord BEACoNsFIELD,
he became the undisputed leader of the
Tory party, noR only in the House Of
Lords, but in the country, is too familiar
to need review. Having become Prime
Minister, in June, 1855, he retained the
post until Jan. 20, 1885, and, in July Of
that year, resumed it after Mr.. GLAD
STONE had been defeated in the general
election following the rejection OF his
first Home Rule bill. The next general
election, held six years later, gave the
British Liberals and Irish Home Rulers
combined majority OF forty in the
House Of Commons. Nevertheless, Lord
SALISBURY, at the Queens special re-
quest, and contrary to recent presidents,
waited for the meeting of Parliament be-
fore resigning; but on the assembling
of the House of Commons a vote Of
want of confidence was at once carried
against him and he retired on Aug. H.,
1892 Queen VICTORIA defied custom
by giving public expression to her dis
appointment at this turn OF events.
The Court Circular next day contained
the unusual announcement that the
Queen had accepted Lord SALIsBURYs
resignation with much regret II ia
we'll known that Lord RosEBERY, who,
on Mr.. GLApsToNEs resignation in
March, 1894, had become Prime Minister,
was defeated in the House of Commons
in June of the following year, and at
once resigned. Lord SALISBURY. to the
Queens undisguised satisfaction, as
sumed power for the third time, on the
understanding that he would make an
early appeal to the country. At the
general election which soon followed
the Unionists returned to power with a
strong majority, and have retained it
to the present time, materially increas-
ing their preponderance, indeed, on
the next appeal to the constituencies,
in 1900 Lord SALIsBrRY's total length
of service in the Office Of Prime Minister
during VIcToRIA's reign extended over
twelve and a quarter years, and, as he
remained Prime Minister nearly eighteen
months after the Queens death, when he
voluntarily resigned in favor of his kins-
man, Mr.. A. j. BALFoUR, the ultimate
length Of his tenure Of power exceeded
GLADsToNE's by fifteen months. There
is no doubt that the Queens relations
with Lord SALISBURY ere not less cor
dial during his second and third long
administrations than during his first
brief experience of government. She
continued to regard him as the former
colleague of Lord BEAcoNsFIELD, and
as the depositary of her favorite Minis
ters wisdom. Her confidence in his
judgment and her admiration of his
sturdy common sense grew as the years
went on. His deep interest in foreign
affairs and his full knowledge of them
gave him a special title to her apprecia-
ton. Between him and the Queen there
was never any Of the tension which
had existed between her and Mr. GLAD
STONE. There was something peculiarly
pleasing to her in the consciousness that
she, as a sovereign. had for her Prime
Minister a great noble. She eventually
placed a portrait Of Lord SALISBURY
in the vestibule Of her private apart
ments at Windsor, face to face with
one of Lord BEACoNsFILLD.
Incorrigibly pugnaoious as he had
seemed in the House Of Commons, and
inconveniently aggressive toward Rus
STA as he had shown himself during the
last Rllsso-Turlish war, Lord SAILS