Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-11
THE PASSING OF
"BLACK MICHAEL :"
Withdrawal from Politics Re-
duccs the Little Group of
"0ld Timers.
IN The BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

spccI0I Correspondence.

Special Correspondence,
7 ONDON, june 2-Slr Michael
Hicks.Bcachs announcement that
he win not seek reelection to the
house of commons after the dis
solution means that parliament Is about
TO lose one Of It's few remaining great
figures Of The past Salisbury is dead.
harcourt has retired, and when "Black
Mlchpd' as the famous ex-chancollor
of the ENchcqucr ls known deserts I'm
hts turn, practically the only remaining
members of the old goard In parliament
will be Joseph Chamberlain Oh one
side and John Morley on the other
Though the titular father OF the
house by virtue Of having occupied a
seat in It continuously longer than any
living member-iO years-Sir Michael
cannot be regarded as an old man as
old parliamentary hands go. He is only
o. and entered parliament when he
was ~ -Four years later that shreWd
judge of men, DisraeH, discovered"
him and made him under secretary
OF the home DEPARTMENT. Thereafter
his political advancement was rapid.
From 1874 to 1878 he was chief secre-
tary for Ireland. In 1878, two years
after Chamberlain had made his poiti-
cal debut, he was appointed colonial
secretary. From 1885 to 1856 he was
chancellor OF the exchoquer, and presi-
dent Of the board Of trade from 1888 TO
lhs2, in 1895 he was again entrusted
with the nations purse strings resign
ing IN 1902 He has held office longer
than any Of his Conservative coll
leagues.
Under ordinary conditions the man
who had served his party so ably. faith
fully and 2ealousy would have waited
FOR hitting opportunity to make his
exit from the commons by way OF the
house OF lords with peerage to con-
sole him in that region Of innocuous
calm for the loss Of actual political
power, and the approaching nfrmities
of age. But Sir Michael has put all
this from him With his fighting pow
ers stu undiminlshed, he has decided
20 sheathe his sword and retire from
the Held Of battle TO devote himself 10
those pastoral pursuits for which his
1000 acres afford ample scope.
II Is Chambcrlain--the mastcrful.
pushful resOurceful man, a year older
than himself but much younger In ap-
pearance and still more so In powers
of adaptability to altered conditions
who has side tracked the baronct. The
Chamberlain gospel of commercial re-
generation by means OF protection, re-
talatlon and preferential colonial tar
MS, which so many of his party have
espoused, he regards as basphemous
heresy against the one true inspired
faith-free trade, and Is convinced
that II can lead only TO political perdi-
ton and the weeping. waillng and
gnashing of teeth that accompanies
overwhelming defeat, Too loyal TO
Wing traditions Of fealty 10 fight
against his party, torture 90 his con-
Nctions TO follow II along the untried
paths whittier Chamberlain would lead
IT, Sir Michael has no other recourse
than 10 become practically parliament
tnry non-Combatant and nonentity or
withdraw from the field. II win be
generally thought that he has chosen
the less iguoble part
There was "A hot time in the cabinet
when as colonial secretary Chamber
lain tried TO boss Sir Michael II ended
Ia Sir Michael reslgning the chancellor
ship OF the eXchcouer, subsequently
Chamberlain resigned his post. but
nothing could illustrate more striking
two men than the fact that the Birm-
irgham member now bulks larger than
ever In the nations eye while the barr
onet has almost dropped out Of sight
And gall ana NORWOOD II must have
been TO him to see Chamberlain SON
young Austen-flliuR his place as the
nations purse holder.
When a nickname sticks tn a man
II Is generally because Of It's innate
appropriateness, That "a why the ep-
tibet which the turbulent Irish mem
hers bestowed ON him when he was
Irish sccretary-"Black Michael" has
clung to him ever since. Els stern ex-
preston OF cOuntenancp seldom relaXes
IN parliament. frown IA seen on t.
much oftcner than a smile lie has
always taken the game of politics very
seriously. lie has none Of that eN-
uherHnt joy iu controversy which Caus-
cs many men 10 seek refreshments, lie
has never gone around seeking trouble,
hut when attacked his eyes glow, he
turns sayagely ON his assailnnt and
generally manages Ia hurt him some
whore for to au irlsClble temper hs
unites a sharp and bitter tongue, and
has genius FOR discovering his ops
poneurs raw spot. Lord Randolph
Churchill found this ont when he start
cd IN go Smash the old Conservative
gang" and decided that Sir Michael
was % good man 20 leave alone.
AAIIABLE AT HOME,
Round about his own country seat
ho Is said To be an amRbc man
enough, but that trait he has always
etGdinusly concealed I'm the house OF
commons. Hence he has never been
popular there. Many time In the
lobbics and lounglng rooms he has been
known TO pass by his intimate ace
Guaiatances without n word or so much
es q nod OF recognition. They do not
'"sout IL, knowing that no rudcness 10
tt'ndcd by t. Il Is just his way.
mother peculiarly OF his is that OF
FnI,,oqulsing aloud when others are
c aking In this way he has often
tq overheard expressing some very
ctndld and uncomplmentnry opinions
% his political contemporaries. ON one
OCCASION he punctuated an eloquent
political peroration by MI, Chamber
lain by giving vent TO an ardent and
tncere wish that that gentleman might
transfer his pcrniCious activity TO
region whore the wicked do not censo