New-York tribune., 1909-09-16


Lord Tweedmouth born in 1s49. son OF Sir
dudley Marjoribanks. he was then, a descendant
OF an old Scottish family. The son. starting life
EDWARD Marjoribanks, was educated at Harrow
ana christ Church, Oxford. and in 1874 was called
10 the bar That year he stood for West
hent' but it was not till 1880 that he entered the
rouse OF Commons as member for Berwckshire.
A year later his father, on Mr. Gladstone's recon-
mendation, was elevated to the peerage.
In the House the young man proved ideal whip.
he could always pierce the veil and read the inner
workings of the political mind and he shaped his
attitude accordingly. But the Liberal whip
social power. well. He inherited. through his
father, a share in the great brewing business OF
Meux q Co. and while still young married
Lady Fanny Churchill, a daughter OF the seventh
Duke of Marlborough and a sister of Lord Ran
dolph Churchill Pro! to the death Of Lady Tweed
mouth, Brook House, ParkIane, a recognized
Liberal salon
In particular, Lord Tweedmouth gained fame
curing the troublous period which followed upon
the general election of 1892 Mr. Gladstone found him
self returned to power, with a majority of forty,
which seemed wholly inadequate to carry through
Parliament his revised Home Rule bill. Under such
circumstance there scarcely a night when
there was not the chancs of ministerial defeat.
The forty might at any moment. by mere neglect
or apathy dwinde either TO a majority so in
hntcsimal as to mean defeat might be turned
into an actual minority. Mr.. Gladstone, too, was
carrying through bin which at almost every point
ences Of opinion between even Ministeralists them
selves The majority did once run down as low as
seven, but Mr. Marjoribanks conquered all his diff
cultes. and the bin got through. only 10 be rejected
aiterward by the House of Lords
When Lord Rosebery's government formed
there was every prospect that Mr.. Marjoribanks
would attain TO stn higher place in the House
OF Commons. But any expectation of this descrip-
ion was set at Eaught by the death of his father.
Lord Tweedmouth. He appointed Lord Privy
Seal with a seat in the Cabinet, and Chancellor OF
the Duchy of Lancaster. hut these combined posts
he was. Of course. compelled to hold in the House
of Lords. He became First Lord OF the Admiralty
as the result of the Liberal victory in 1906 which
made Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman Premier.
In the early part Of 1908 IL was discovered that
Lord Tweedmouth had been corresponding with the
German Emperor the subject Of the British
naval programme, which caused a sensation in
England and in Germany The subject was referred
10 on several occasions IN the House OF Commons.
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr.. Asquith.
eventually made a statement in which ne said that
the letter TO Lord Tweedmouth from the German
Emperor was "a purely personal and private com
municaton. conceived in an entirely friendly
spirit" and that Lord Tweedmouth's answer was
equally private and Informal
Lord Tweedmouth also made statement in the
House Of Lords. and action was taken then On
the reorganization 81 the ministry after Sir Henry
tampbsll-Eaunermsn death he was appointed
LORD President ~ the Council, hut resigned some
months later soon after the incident IL was re-
ported that his health had broken down