New-York tribune., 1909-10-31
.ouz CT The LEADERS CT THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

form. Of course whether civil, military |
or diplomatic but an apparel possibly
little theatrical II was. at any rate. one
which answered the purpose. Curzon's
object in going to Afghanistan was
very serious one He wished to study
the Afghan question at first hand. He
did that. He was received by the Ameer.
he saw much OF the country ard the
reorle. He seems to have done as well
as # he had had Calcutta behind him
ana letters from the Niceroy; perhaps
better. And he returned in safety
asked him whether he was ever attacked
or threatened.
There had been" he said, zone anx-
ious moment. As we came down the
river on our return we saw at some dis
tance ahead OF US a promontory 5utting
cut into Q bend Of the river and com
pleteiy commanding the passage. II
was occupied by a force Of armed men
II they meant mischief we were at their
r1e-cv. But as the boat approached
they fred their rifles in the air as
salute. and We swept past all safe"
When Lord Curzon was appointed
Ticeroy OF India in 1899 The Times
called il a splendid experiment. That
exrressed q general opinion Nobody
doubted Lord Curzon's abilities or
knowledge. Whether ne had also the
qualities 4 great. or even = good, VICE
ROY must have. was not known; perhaps
could not be known till he had been
tried. But the world was not left long
waiting. From the start he entered
yyor1ld he q better word than great. Any
one OF them involved work enough for
the full FIVE years of Niceroy's HLT'
/ which is a very fun and taxing life With
ont anv reforms at all. This is no place
TO write the history of them. or even 20
mention them It is enough to say that
they were carried out 10 near comple-
ton. and would have been carried 10
completion had not the conflict between
Lord Curzon and Lord Kitchener uit-
mateIy involved Lord Curzons resiGha-
ton. for reasons have explained before
OF course there was friction, opposi-
tion. complaint The complaints were
bitter. ore Of Lord Curzon's great re-
forms was administrative, and affected
the Civil Service of India. No service
formed. or can be reformed without cries
OF agony from the victims who undergo
this operation. But Lord Curzon peIse-
v=red He had his reward. he was
hated BIZ no small number Of that great
body Il able servants OF the state.
AneIo-Indian opinion was against MIN
and il found plenty OF echoes mere IN
England None the less did the Nlceroy
pursue his way sersnely. When ms hNe
wears had been completed the home gov
crnment asked him 10 stay on for an
other two years. He came home for
short holiday and returned, and the
smash followed.
But since he re-entered public life IN
England Lord Curzon has been great
figure As an Irish peer he had no seat IN
the House Of Lords till chosen an irish
. REPRESENTATIVE Peer. From the first his
. power as q debater his wisdom in coun-
/ Gil. his force Of Will were recognized. IN
this great body he ranks among the fore
( most. and the foremost number perhaps
1 half i dozen. In the coming conflict on
. the budget you will find him plc.-ing the
part of a statesman TO whom the whole
/ range OF this tremendous controversy is
familiar. 4 Conservative he has always
been, and these are days which convert
many a Liberal into Conservative. OF
the many other directions in which his
energies turn, Oxford is perhaps the
chief. He is chancellor CT the University
of oxford. with farreaching schemes Tor
/ strenethening that ancient and ever
1 young scat Of learning.
For many years Lord Curzon has had
70 endure bodily pain of very trying
kind. Not thu least remarkable thing
/ about him is that he has never allowed
il 10 impair his power Of work or power
O. win or geniaIity Of nature. His
speechcs are those OF a man in the full
/ splendor Of health. On the most conlp!i-
Gated Of all subjects, the politics Of the
4 Far East his authority stands first. Nor
is II, ] hope, yet too late TO remember
( that he was, while il lasted, the head OF
. that rare company of men and women
. known as the Souls. Considering who
they were and by what spiritual affinitias
I they Were attracted 10 each other and
kept tcgcther. one may say that this
: leadership was not the least OF the many
. titles % fame which Lord Curzon has
won and stiil holds. But this Last is but
4 Z memory, since if the Souls ever had
any corporate existence the corporation
4 has been dissolved. 6. w. s