New-York tribune., 1908-03-25
THE DUKES CAREER.

The Right Hon. Spencer Compton Cavendish
eighth Duke OF Devonshire, born on July g.
1875, the second son Of William Cavendish, Esq
and Of his wife Lady Blanche Georgtna Howard
daughter of George. sixth Earl of Carlisle. On
May g. 1884, however, his father succeeded his
grandfather as second Earl of Burlington and
( Baron Cavendish of Keighley. County York and on
January 49, 1858, he succeeded cousin Villa m
Spencer Cavendish, seventh Duke of Devon
shire. Marquis Of Harrington, Earl of Devonshire
and Baron Cavendish Of Hardwick County Derby.
The late duke his succession to the death
of his elder brother in infancy. His first name
comes from the first wife of his great t-granduncle,
the fifth Duke of Devonshire. who married Lady
Georgiana Spencer, eldest daughter Of the first
Earl Spencer. June ). 1874. His second name was
borne by the wife of his great-g grandfather. the
first Earl of Burlington who married the daugh-
ter Of the seventh Earl of Northampton. February
q, 17S2 Until the death of his father and his own
advancement to the peerage the duke known
by the courtesy title of Marquis Of Harrington.
: and such he his political honors in the
House of Commons.
With his brothers. Lords Frederick Charles and
Edward Cavendish, he received his early educa-
tion at home, and he entered Trinity College, Cam
bridge. in 1851-where his father had preceded and
where his brothers followed hinl-unspoiled by his
private and special training
/ Two years after leaving the university he ac-
companied Earl Granville a special mission to
Russia Returning to England he elected to
the House of Commons of the Liberal men,
bers for North Lancashire after a bitter contest
with tha& powerful Stanley family the head of
which, the Earl of Derby, then chief OF the
Tories and all powerful in lancaster.
With great sagacity for young man. perhaps
aided by that complete absence OF vanity which
Of his most prominent characteristics,
Lord Harrington refrained from all but small ef
forts in debate and bided his time while acquiring
knowledge of parliamentary business. His oppor
tunity in 1853. Then II decided by the
Liberal party to move vote OF want of confidence
in the Derby-DisraeH government and Earl Gran
viIe's novice brought forward to lead the
attack.
In March, 1868. toward the close OF Lord Palmer
ston's second administration he made a civil
lord of the admiralty, and in April of the same
year he became Under Secretary for War While
holding the latter Office he made very striking
exhibitions in debate craftsmanship. but his
conscientious industry and his social position
marked him out for promotion.
WORK IN THE WAR OFFICE
When Earl Russell became Premier in 1856. upon
the death of Lord Palmerston, he selected Lord
Harrington as his Secretary of State for War. In
this Office he proved TO be faithful and capable
and developed much OF the rough and ready ability
necessary TO working minister. There was at
that time a growing feeling in England that the
entire administration of the army required reform
and questions We're constantly put to the head OF
the War Office. Lord Harrington always
equal to the occasion. Late III the day he could
Re seen striding down TO the War Office with a
string Of queries and in hour he would
emerge loaded with facts. dates and arguments
with which to meet his opponents in the Com
mons.
The fighting in the Commons however. was not |
the minister's difficult task His department. |
needed cleansing well defending, in |
his efforts TO carry out some measures then looked
upon as revolutionary Lord Harrington met the |
opposition Of the Duke of Cambridge. and 1t re- |
quired all the tact and 1rmness of the young min
lister TO impress his views upon the commander In !
chief. From his thorpy position was released |
by the defeat Of the Russell ministry in July, 1866 |
on detail of the Reform bill. The Derby min
istry followed on February 81 1858 by the first
DisTaeh ministry, which out of office on De-
Cenber of the year.
At the general election in 1868 Lord Harrington
was defeated in North Lancashire where the
power OF the hostile Staneys procured the return
of the Hon, Frederick Arthur Stanley the present
Earl Of Derby. and of the Right Hon. John Wilson
Patten. To obtain a in Parliamen: he was
forced to resort TO the Radnor boroughs. which
We're under Cavendish influence and for which
Richard Greene Price had since 1863. Lord
Harrington reelected from the same district |
in 1874 with little opposition, and in 1880 with
at all In the latter year he also elected from
Northeast Lancashire. From 1885 until 1891, when
he took his hereditary in the House OF Lords |
he represented the Rosendale district of Lam
cashire.
When Mr- Gladstone organized his first ministry.
I 1858, Lord harrington found a place in the Cab
met as Postmaster General, while the War port
folio fell TO Lord Cardwe, scholar OF retired. II
not ascetic. habits. To vain the acceptance
II the Postmaster Generalship after once occupy
ng the post Of Var Minister would have appeared
humiliation. But it did not present itself in this
light TO Lord harrington, ard IT ruTnored at
he time that he b. (while
.Ver ready 10 do his duty) intrust the work of
eforming the army administration hands less
Uttered than his own by social ties
Lord Harrington continued to be Postmaster Gen
raj until early 1s11, when lie succeeded the
Right Hon. Chichester =. Fortescue Chief Sec
etary for Ireland, still retaining a in the
-abnet. that time Earl Spencer was Lord !
Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Harrington retired |
rom the Office OF Chief Secretary for Ireland when
ne Gladstone ministry went OF Office in 1874
When M Gladstone temporarily resigned the
aalership Of the Liberal party shortly before the
assembling, Of the Parliament elected in 1877 Lord
darlington was unanimously chosen by the mem
eis of the Opposition their acknowledged leader
b the Commons. So wei did he fulfil the difficult !
,ties Of this uugrateful post that IN February, T
S75 he Iecame the permanent Liberal leader.
DECLINED PREMIERSHIP.
When the Beaeonsieid ministry was defeated in
or Lord Harrington and asked him form a min !
;try He steaGlasily refused, and insisted that : :
Ir Gladstone must ne for. It was well !
nown At the time 2ir Gladstone would decline
n oiIer Of the premiership If accompanied by any
xpression or IntInarion Of the Queens personal
rpuguancc 10 accept him chief minister of the
rown: but when convinced hy lord Harrington
nd Earl Granville that they could not form i o.
linsIry The Queen suppressed any personal II
pathy she may have had and called Mr.. Glad ii
han he tarI lIS min d