New-York tribune., 1903-10-07
BALFOUR AND DEFONSHTRE.

The great fiscal controversy in British politics
Is for the moment overshadowed by q personal
controversy OF much Importance and of ab-
sorbing interest. The Prime Minister'S Sheffield
speech has been quickly followed by one of the
most remarkable letters it has been the privi-
lege Of this generation to read In some quar-
tiers Mr.. Balfour's letter TO the Duke of Devon
shire as deplored as an unwarrantable outourst
into which he has been hastily betrayed, and as
Indicative Of dismay. What facts may lurk be-
hind the scenes we do not know. But, upon the
face of the case and at this distance, the letter
seems TO be one of the most vigorous, search
ing and convincing masterpieces of epistolary
controversy we have read for many a year,
The gist Of it is in this pithy and pregnant sen-
tence: II see no difficulty In carrying out the
policy which for fortnight yOu ,cere iCitiiRg to
s'GoceDf by the aid of an administration which
''for q fortnight vou helped TO construct. Upon
the truth Of that the whole case turns. If 1t
be true that the duke was for a fortnight
willing 10 accept Mr.. Balfour's policy. with
which he was intimately and accurately ac-
quainted. and for a fortnight participated in
the reconstruction Of the Cabinet; if it be true
that he initiated proposals of his own amenda-
tory of that policy, which Mr.. Balfour accepted,
and thus directly made himself part author
of that policy-if these things be true, as
Mr. Balfour asserts, then the conduct of the
duke in now resigning his place must be re-
garded as extraordinary. More than that we
must conclude that Mr.. Balfour is justified i'm
feeling aggrieved and betrayed. The duke
might with good grace have retired when Mr..
Rtchie and Lord George Hamilton did. He had
Al good cause to do so then as now. Mr.. Bal
four had then as strongly committed himself
to his present policy as he has done since. IL
the duke could swallow his pamphlet, there is
no reason why he should strain at his Sheffield
speech. But having accepted the pamphlet and
the other utterances of the Prime Minister,
his conduct in now turning against them and
against the Ministry seems incapable of salts
factory explanation by any facts DOW known to
the public. There seems certainly 10 be far
more justification for the bitterness" which
some perceive in Mr. Balfour's letter.
Had the Duke Of Devonshire resigned from
the Ministry some weeks ago. at the first posi-
i've announcement Of Mr.. Balfour's population
of Cobdenism there would have been no. ground
for complaint on Mr.. Balfour's part CT for sur
prise on the part Of the public For the duke.
we must remember. stood apart from all his
colleagues in the Ministry. solitary and unique,
in the respect of having been lifelong. thor
ouch and typical Gladstonian. For many years
he was Mr. Gladstone's Ministerial colleague
and right hand man. When, in the 10s. Mr..
Gladstone went into temporary retirement the
duke-then Lord HartingtoD-served his
locum tenens in the leadership Of the Liberal
party There was no man OF those times more
closely identified with Mr.. Gladstone and with
MFR. Gladstone's fiscal and other policies than
he He parted from Mr.. Gladstone on the Home
Rule issue but there has always been doubt
whether he did so on constitutional principle so
much as on the personal feeling which had
been overpoweringly strong with him ever since
the butchery of his brother in Phoenix Park.
Certainly there never was any indication that
he had in the least degree turned away from
the Cobdenite and Gladstonian fiscal policy of
his Rossendale campaigns. For him promptly
10 have declined 10 be led away therefrom by
men who were never Gladstonians would not
have been in the least surprising. and in the
present circumstances it may well be doubted
whether the moral effect of his retirement from
the Ministry will be as great as some have sup
posed.
With one exception, the Cabinet appointments
now announced are mere transfers or promo
tons which have been expected and discussed,
and which call for no especial comment. The
one exception is the Hon Alfred Lyttelton, who
succeeds 90 Mr. Chamberlain's place as Secre-
tary for the Colonies. He is generally recog-
nized as a man of exceptional ability, who
might well some time ago have been appointed
TO Cabinet place. He has paid much practical
attention to colonial affairs. especially in con-
nection with South Africa and Newfoundland,
and is probably one OF the best fitted men for
me place TO be found in the United Kingdom.
lie VIII add real strength to a Ministry which
STANDS In need OF all the strength it can mus
'er' ana which at best will probably prove TO
Dc a transitional and short lived affair. We OBJ
ago. hat Grfrf md
parties are now in a state of .ux. In sucb cir
cumstances We may see several changes of Min
isuy In rapid succession before complete reor-
eanization on new basis is effected. The su-
premely significant feature of the case apart