New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-03

pury held his famous empty house, secret
coiIerence with Parnell before election as
6laustone held one and more with him after
election Bargaining was in the air Lord Ran
uolph Gid not negotiate with Irish leaders. but
with those Liberals who were soon to become
Liberal Unionists. Irish education was still his
hobpy, and he tried to rally Lord Harrington
and his friends to a coalition with the Con-
servatlVes for the pursuance OF such policy.
Had Lord Harrington agreed to it. he would
have become leader of the Commons and Lord
Randolph would again have been barred from
that envied place. The latters zeal for party
and national welfare, however. surpassed his
personal ambition He not only urged such
coalition, but he propounded an elaborate
scheme Of party reorganization, of reformed
parliamentary procedure. and OF constructive
legislation including land laws, endowment of
Roman Catholic colleges in Ireland and codih-
cation of the criminal law,
THESE plans came to naught The Liberals
won the election. and Gladstone came In with
ms Hrst home Rule Parliament Lord Ran
uoiph had been for Cancellation with Ireland
pu' DIS soon as Gladstone preached his Home
Rule scheme he turned against him and against
the Parnellites with such an access of vehe-
mence as he had never displayed before. He
visited Ulster, and made that famous speech
Ulster will fight. and Ulster will be rightw
of its most effective cries. He worked
earnestly for coalition between the Conserva-
tlves and the Liberals who revolted against
home Rule, and it was he who applied to the
latter the now historic name Of Unionists. He
became the close friend and ally of his former
most bitter antagonist. Mr.. Chamberlain. whom
he affectionately dubbed ''the Great joe" 1t is
gratifying to note. by the way, that the pres
ent biographer. though certainly not partisan
Of Mr. al
that statesman from the old charge of having
Joined Gladstone's Home Rule Cabinet with ma
licOus intent to wreck it, saying that Mr.. Cham
berlains letter before accepting office and Glad
stones reply to 1t ARE e powerful defence Of
his action" In the parliamentary fight over
Gladstone's bill Lord Randolph a conspicu-
oNs figure. and 1t was he who precipitated the
actual crisis. He charged Gladstone with mean
ing to reconstruct" the bill. and thus drew the
latter into an incautiOus denial Of such purpose.
1t that denial that sealed the fate OF the
bill on it's second reading.
Then came the cataclysm. In the campaign OF
1886, without precedent and without successor.
Lord Randolph perhaps the foremost figure
on the Conservative side. His election address.
in which he spoke Of Gladstone as ian old man
in hurry" the most savage in the his
tory of British politics. In the resultant VIC
tory he recognized entitled to highest
honOrS. Sir Michael HlcKS-Beacn resigned the
leadership of the Commons to him, saying Lord
Randolph was his superior in eloquence, abi-
ity and influence" So at the age Of thirty-seven
this brilliant scion of the Churchills became
Chancellor Of the Exchequer, leader of the
House of Commons, and easily the second gov
ernmental parsonage in the British Empire.
Such achievement was unprecedented. save
by Pitt. But Lord Randolph felt the obsession
of fate. How long VIII your leadership last?"
inquired a friend six months" And then?"
Westminster AbbeyP' Again his pessimism
was too marked but there prophetic
touch in his remark to Mr.. Chamberlain during
the debate on the address: You have more eff
feet on the Tory party than either Lord Sails
bury myself"
His administration Chancellor Of the Elk
chequer was expected to be sensational-the an
ties of bull in a china shop. In fact, 1t proved
TO be brilliant. yet dstinctively sound, sane and
conservative He was not only strong finan-
cier. He gave attention to foreign affairs and
to every department Of imperial administration.
In his hartford speech OF October q 1885,
largely inspired by the Infamous kidnapping of
Alexander Of Bulgaria by Russian agents, the
zenith of his career was reached. He over
Swallowed the Prime Minister himself. and
lowered above every other European statesman
The Grand Old Man" was eclipsed by the
Grand Young Man" Then came the Budget.
There was a conflict between economy, efficiency
and practically on the side. and bureau
cratic traditions on the other. Lord Randolph
committed himself unreservedly to the former
side, to stand to fall. His presentation Of
his Budget was brilliant, luminous, fascinating.
But the System was against him. and was
too much for him. The crux Of the situation
was in the army estimates of his friend, Mr.
W. H. Smith, which he insisted must be greatly
reduced. You will shortly have to decide"
he wrote TO Salisbury. on December 10, whose
services you will retain-those of your War
Minister those Of your Chancellor of Ex-
chequer." The Marquis decided. He retained
Mr. Smith. and Lord Randolph resigned. He
had become Chancellor at the beginning of Au-
gust, ne had dominated Europe at the begin
ming Of October. and in The Times" of Decem-
Der % his resignation was announced!
There used to be story to the effect that he
was merely 'bluffing" with his resignation; that
he thought there was nobody who could take his
place: that he would be asked to remain, and
that when his successor was appointed he ex-
claimed in CONSERVATION, Il forgot Goschen"
Doubtless there was never word of truth in it.
He had himself thought and talked of Mr..
Goschen in connection with the place, and recog-
nzed his eminent availability for it. 1t is to be
assumed he confidently expected him TO be his
successor When he resigned he felt his
resignation would be accepted and he acted in
entire good faith. Indeed, it was time. The
fervency of his spirit was consuming him,
and the mysterious malady that finally ended his
life had already laid its memorable hand upon
him as he well realized. But he struggled on.
Free lance as he was, Ishmaelite as he was not