New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
Anglo-American Memories
ULSTER STORIES AND ULSTER MEN.
Copyright 1911 George W. smalley3

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qu'ses 'of Great Britain and Earls of
scotland; as well as Dues de Cbatel-
herault IN France; and with great nos
sessions. Lord Claud is sjrtv-aisb+
years old; five years younger than bis
brother the present Duke of Aharcor,,
ne was a soldier; an officer Of the Gren-
aCler Guards: retired when / first met
him, but with the stamp of the soldier
still on him; as he has to-day: and with
the warlfke ardor of the soldier. as he
comes a scion of fighting race But he
drifted into politics; has been much in
Parliament. and is now M. P. for South
Aensington, populous METROPOLITAN
borough. In politics he took no very
conspicuous place. l never heard him
make speech, nor is speaking his chief
GIT. He speaks TO his constituents as
every member Of Parliament must
Late In life he was made the chairman
OF that great railway which. perhaps TO
the surprise of those who did not know
him. ne has governed with unfailing
ability and success And these are DAYS
when military training and the temper
OF a soldier are a good equipment for a
railway chairman; since between the
railways and the trade unions there is a
state of war; of war never ended by a
lasting peace, but only broken by che
truce after another, each IF indefinite
duration.
II you meet Lord Claud, If you look
into his keen face. If you listen to him.
you will perceive that he is a leader Of
men-a born leader who nevertheless
came late into his heritage. The ring Of
steel is in his voice. the light Of battle
In his eye: nothing but the uniform lack
ing TO his warriors outfit: but the uni
form is always lacking to the British Of
1cer not on duty. Alive. alert ready for
all corners, the close lips relaxing into
a smile, the figure erect. the head car
ried as only a soldier ever carries It: go
that you wonder why he abandoned a
career for which he was plainly meant
And then you reflect that he has now re-
sumed it.
Even Lord Kitchener. for that interval
during which the War Office was making
up its mind how best 10 be rid Of the
first soldier Of his time, became a rail-
way director. resigning his dictatorship
when he accepted Egypt. Did the cable
tell you that Lord Kitchener was never
theless in command during the London
strikes and that ii was he who put Lon
don In state Of military defence against
which strikers and rioters-two words
for the same thing-found themselves
helpless, and beaten from the start9 It
was a secret which the War Office kept
TO itself: at least for a time.
What the cable did tell you of. no
doubt, was Lord Glands refusal to rec
ognize the unions. II took the form of
a plain declaration that recognition could
only mean chaos on the railways. indus
trial and commercial disaster through
out the kingdom, the rule Of the minor
ity over the majority the destruction Of
that discipline which is the life Of rail-
way service and the sole security of the
public; tyranny and intimidation over
the non-unionists and finally the abso-
lutte despotism of the four great railway
unions. which nevertheless include not
more than a fourth Of railway workers.
Said Lord CIaud:
That we will not accept at any price
or On any terms. 1t is repugnant to the
principles Of justice, equitysand common
sense"
Never were more timely words spoken.
Behind the speaker stands the still un-
broken strength of the great Railways of
the Kingdom; and behind these the con-
sidered opinion Of the intelligent public.
Therefore t is that Lord Claud Ham
ilton becomes all at once a great man
among men. There is little use in say
ing now that his eminence was foreseen
and predicted by some of those who
knew him best and by some who knew
him slightly. What may still be Of use
is to look at the man himself; to con-
slider his origin and his family relation
to the community and to ask oneself
whether there are not. after all, govern
ing classes, and whether, in the long
run. and even in these days OF Democ-
racy and Of an almost unlimited suf-
frage. they do not govern still
/ meant to say word Of Lady Claud
Hamilton, who died but the other day.
1 knew her in the days Of her social
splendor, with a beauty of face and fig
ure and rhythmical movement that
compelled your homage, and of an in
dependence which in the end almost ex-
lied her from the society she belonged
10. From her husband she had long
been parted, and Of late had been little
could not be forgotten. / first met her
on the deck Of a yacht, and the two led
much the same lives: of a loneliness that
was all harmony and delicate contours
A vision OF which the brilliancy ended
alas. in shadow. Hers is name which
of late years has been heard but seldom
She chose to renounce her rightful place
l cannot help that. nor forget the woman
as she was. nor do | see why she may
not have at her death the tribute Of ad-
miration which everybody paid her in
early life If it is now only a memory
let US be loyal to the memory.
G. W. S.
npEPA SEASON OPENED