New-York tribune., 1904-10-02

William lying dead on his bed. His son. Lewis.
member Of Parliament for the Rossendale Divi-
sion Of Lancashire, was hastily summoned from
London
The physicians say Sir William died from.
heart failure during sleep. The fact that his
heart was weak had been known 70 the physi-
clans and family for some time.
The funeral VIII take place at Nuneham on
October or 8. The arrangements have not yet
been completed.
Among all classes in the United Kingdom. re-
gardless Of party. the unexpected news caused a
sensation and genuine regret. The somewhat
pathetic announcement in March last OF his in
tended retirement had prepared the public for
Sir Williams disappearance from the active
arena OF political strife. but there had been no
whisper that his staIwart constitution had been
radically impaired by nearly forty years OF
fierce parliamentary strife.
The evening edition OF The Standard" one OF
the dead mans most bitter opponents aptly and
generously says
With the late Liberal leader there has passed
away one OF the last OF those Titanic figures
hound up with the most brilliant traditions or
the House Of Commons. There are but a few
left Of those eminent statesmen who received
their political training Al The hands OF Glad
stone and Dsraeu. The coincidence Of his death
with the intended withdrawal OF the diEtin-
guished statesman into well earned repose after
a career OF hard work and political activity
gives added pathos to the event
In similar vein The Pail Mall Gazette" out
ana out Conservative in its views pays tribute
OF the most striking figures Of the po-
ltlcal arena % while the Liberal afternoon news
papers deplore the loss sustained by their party.
FOR III or out D: The House Of Commons the dead
statesman would always have been power BY
the death Of the Father OF the Front Opposi-
tion Bench" the Liberals lose says The star
champion OF progressive causes and the stalwart
leader of many fOrIorn hopes" Another Con
servatlve afternoon paper SAYS.
Sir william Veruon-Harcourt served his gen
Grafton and served iU we'll He was bound 10
political friends with bonds Of friendship which
FOR his cart rarely II ever were broken. and he
leaves memory which VIII be- honored IN the
House OF Commons FOR many years TO come
An underlying note in the columns Of obituary
that appear is keen regret g the disappearance
OF such strenuous type Sir William from the
ranks Of both parties. This washbuekleT." as
his opponents used 10 can him IN his lifetime,
was upheld even IN the midst OF the recent po-
litic6l strife over free trade the type OF man
who knew his own mind ana vas not afraid 10
fight for It. His sedgehamner arguments, his
long letters to The London Times under the
pen name OF "Historicus"-one OF his letters oc-
cupied eight columns-and his who'll demeanOr.
the eighteenth rather thar OF the nineteenth
century all combined 10 make him not only
forceful. but a picturesque. figure English pol
itics. as one paper says. will now lose something
OF their sting. But those intimate with the In
ner feelings of the members OF the House or
Commons know that the gap in the front bench
where the huge figure of Sir William had long
grown 10 be familiar sight. will be uneom-
mOny haru 10 fill
Not since Lord Salisbury died. and scarcely
then. for the late Premier had few personal
friends has the death of any statesman created
so much genuine feeling at the headquarters OF
both parties The National Liberal Club imme-
diately halfmastad it's flag and sent message
Of sympathy to Lady Harcourt. The other clubs
followed suit II stated only a few weeks
ago that King Edward had urged Sir William
once again-for he had twice refused peerage-
70 accept some mark OF distinction upon the
close Of his active career. In his last speech,
delivered at the National Liberal Club on July
2s. Sir william said somewhat pathetically;
is not because am weary OF the fight or am
It is because l do not think il for the public az,
Vantage that people should attempt TO fulpl
duties that they are unable to perform
Ye, even during the last session OF Parliament.
subsequent 70 the announcement that ne no
longer was able 10 perform his duties Sir Wlh-
lam attacked Joseph Ho~"' -
posaIs in a long speech, delivered in that Ho-
nneric. sIashing style so familiar for many
,,.ar IN all those connected with British politics
The general opinion expressed I'm the bidg-
-anb,es appearing to-day is that Sir William
t5arcourt never quite got over the action
- NJ Gladstone in selecting Lord Rosebery IN
-stead ~ himself as his successor. and since pr
TviIJjam gave up the Liberal leadership In the
tyo,,Se ~ Commons. after a dispute with the
o,,1oar Premier he had not taken open part IN
youilsT LsS,,,,is ~ the party though he remained
powerful inner influence, pel"s 40 iil"oH iV@lN
III IbosnJtaIity displayed by Sir William Har-
s nns sS his wife 20 her fellow cOuntrymen and
.srast they took in all American questions
me- sls zen proverbial I'm England for many years
e, vy-uI,aua Harcourt was one OF the most notable
- a. english political history toward the end
"s - ,,o,eAnth century. His full name
ST,r,,au George Granville Venables Vernon -Har-
. - bo was born October IA 1924 His
-s.Ssa.her Edward Vernon. was Archbishop OF
-, - hts father a canon of the Church
- r1. ,-o,,tb the Earl OF Hareourt died. and with
49,. ~ ,,,le but Archbishop Vernon assumed the
-. - HI.-oourt which that OF his wife before
.oo His descent has been traced back 20 the
r,,as.a1.,ats william Vernon -Hareeurt began his
.s..sa.s,r N a private school at Salisbury and
-snn1staa q AZ Trinity College. Cambridge where
- 10 vras,ated with high honors IN ISL He then
ss,s,sa law and wrote for THE Saturday Review"