The Irish standard., 1903-08-29
LORD SALISBURY.

pS llle ueittu Ol l-Oru SALISBURY the
British Empire lost statesman who
has been in public life for almost fifty
years. He belonged to the famous
family of Cecils which has been prom
inent for centuries in the public life
of England. He was an unflinching
Tory, and has opposed every effort at
reform which came up since he ell
tered public life. He cannot right
fully be called great man judged by
the true test of actual accomplish
ment. He never was popular even
with his own party, but his family
name, the fact that he was great
lord and the further fact that he was
a great favorite with Queen Victoria,
served to make him the leader of the
Conservative party after the death of
Disraeli. He was three times prime
minister, his service as such covering
period of thirteen and one-half
years, being fifteen months longer
than Gladstone's leadership. AL
there never was a friendly feeling be-
tween the two. When Gladstone in
troduced his bill to disestablish the
Anglican Church in Ireland in 1868,
Lord Salisbury was it's most vigorous
opponent. The great Disraeli felt con-
strained to make Salisbury one of the
members of his last cabinet, although
Disraeli personally disliked him and
once said of Lord Salisbury in the
House of Commons: He is not Il man
whe measures his phrases ;he is great
master of gibes and tiouts and jeers."
Lord Salisbury died just as the Balkan
question opened up again. He, to-
gether with Disraeli, We're Englands
representatives at the Congress of
Berlin in 1878, and While he was al
ways second to Lord Beaconstield
(DisraelD, yet he took Il leading part
in the settlement of the Eastern
question ut that time. Time has PROV
ed England's course in that conference
IL great mistake. England was the
champion of Turkey and Lord Sails
bury was more to blame than any
other statesman for the keeping of the
Turk in Europe. The Treaty of Ber-
lin was signed July II. 1878. and it
was thought to be Il final settlement
of the Eastern question. Bulgaria
was then made into tributary prin-
cipality under the suZer;linty of the
Sultan Of Turkey with Il Christian
prince to he elected by the Bulgarian
people. Servia was made independ
ent and religious liberty was to be
granted throughout the Turkish En-
pire. Some of the greatest names in
the politics of the last century are as
sOciated with the work of this Con-
gress. Prince Bismarck. Prince
Hohenlohe and Count Won Bulow
represented Germany; Lord Beacons-
field and Lord Salisbury, Great Brit
ain. Prince Gortschakoff was ut the
head Of Russia's delegation and Count
Andrassy that of Austria Hungary.
War was barely averted at that time
of the dispute over the Bulgarian
question. England demanded that
Russia withdraw her troops from Bull
garia. which Russia for time re-
fused to do. Bismarck succeeded in
cooling the anger of Lord Beacons-
field and Prince Gortschakoff and
Russia acceded to the demands of
England. Lords Beaconstield and
Salisbury were accorded great re-
ception ut Dover and in London up
on their return from Berlin. Queen
Victoria conferred the Order of the
Garter upon the diplomats and the
outcome of the Congress was regarded
as great victory in England. This
was Lord Salisbury's greatest con-
structive work and that has proved
Il great failure. 1t was Il peculiar
irony of fate which compelled him to
depart this life Mt Il time when the
whole work of the Treaty of Berlin
bids fair to be undone. He showed a
persistent dislike for the United
States throughout his career but al
ways avoided complications. He
showed in the Venezuelan matter that
he knew when to stop. He was life
long enemy of Ireland and of Irish
aspirations.