Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-14

OF popular plane! Sdlu a wen
1 known English politician in q
HSAa{BH London club recently. Look at
NNS Lansdowne. Not long ago, when
our troops were encountering disaster upon
disaster in South Africa, he was the most
unpopular man in England. He was more
than unpopular; he was hated. AS minister
of war he was blamed for everything over
looked or unforeseen by the army. II 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 whirligig of time has
brought him up to the top again with as
tonishing ~rapidity.
mo man ever seemed more hopelessly
ruined politically than Lansdowne did when
public indignation at the South African
plumbers forced him to give up the position
of secretary of state for war. His appoint.
ment as foreign minister Immediately aft
erward was the most unpopular act of
Lord Salisbury's c~areer-and it was also the
Quickest. But it has turned out we'll.
"Lansdowne, starting as the best hated
man in British politics, has become the
most popular foreign minister since Rose
.bery-perhaps since Palmerston. He has
a great career before him and 1t would
not be surprising If he succeeded Mr.. Bal
four in the premiership when the latter
grows tired of it,"
TIL credit of the Marquis of L~ansdowne's
success at the British foreign office is
largely due to his clever and accomplished
wife, who has long held a prominent posi-
ton in European society. Like many Eng
llsh women of noble families. she makes
politics her hobby. Bismarck used to call
her the amateur ~diplomatist," and say
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 opin-
ions from everybody.
Lord Lansdowne was one of the best vice.
roys India ever had, but the English Off
Gals used to say that Lady Lansdowne
really governed the country. II one of
them wanted a bridge, or an irrigation
tank, or a famine relief appropriation for
mis- district, he would try to interest Lady
Lansdowne In the matter rather than the
Vlceroy. II she could be convinced tina the
thing was needed, she would soon set the
right wheels to work and get it.
When Lady Lansdowne went out into the
streets her carriage would be surrounded
py natives who wanted grievances redressed
or privileges granted to them by the gov
NHHSh| one WOULD go 10 great trouble to
make inquiry into their cases and see ius-
uce done. Al nights she would go dis
guised in native garb into the poorest
quarters of Calcutta on missions of charity
or justice, like a feminine Haroun-al-Ras-
child.
A retired Indian Judge tells a curious
story about Lady Lansdowne in this con-
nection. He was dining at the viceregal
lodge one night, and the conversation
turned upon a sensational murder 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 vour
judicial duties, but / know as an absolute
ract that the man who is charged with
that murder is innocent. II you win send
a detective to me tomorrow morning I will
direct him to the house where the real
murderer is now hiding. I only discovered
the fact this afternoon when I was down
there In disguise with ono of our syces."
Sure enough, the murderer was cauSbt
as Lady Lansdowne had said, and the in
nocent man was released. This incident.
becoming known, made her very popular
with the people OF Calcutta, who are NOT
used to English "mem-sahibs'' taking SO