New-York tribune., 1911-07-23
AnglO-AmeriCan Memories
CxXIX.
'''S oHoER OF THE eARTER-so ME AND
ONE WHO NOT
Copyright. 1911. George W. sma,I,y1

ular when he comes back a few years
hence with his fleet OF battleships?'
But again return to the Garter; a
subject on which, as Mill said Of all great
subjects. much remains to be said.
Nor have l really departed from 1t, since
all the Great Personages whom | have
/ mentioned are of the Order. If I have
not quoted Lord Melbournes panegyric
upon II as a distinction with no
damned nonsense of merit about IT, |
refrain only because it is too familiar;
but, familiar or not, it now quotes itself
1t becomes inevitable as you look down
the list of X. G.s whose chief title TO
distinction Is. I'm so many cases, their
title and their place in the Peerage.
There are eleven Dukes. They bear
great names. most OF them. but what
else do most Of them bear? They are
do not be too much surprised II ! say
so-good and useful citizens, discharging
many private and some public duties
with diligence and zeal. They have
title to esteem in the hatred with which
Mr.. Lloyd George pursues them: for the
present though there are people who
forecast Mr. Lloyd Georges future as a
defender of privilege and Of the institu-
tions he is now attacking. But they are
Dukes and to he Duke in this country
is still thought by vast multitudes Of
people 10 he in itself n title to respect,
and to something more than respect. SO
let the Dukes pass. They are worthy Of
the Garter because they are Dukes and
because they are so few-only twenty
eight in all.
OF Marquesses who are knights of the
Garter there are but five; one Of them,
Lord LansdoWne. n great servant Of the
State. There are eight Earls. Of whom
one, the Earl Of Elgin. was Viceroy Of
India. 1S9i-99. a period Of rash expert
ment: Of indecision; of policy prolific Of
future trouble. one is a great soldier.
Lord Roberts; soldier who has loved
well fought field better than that dull
work OF organizing. in which Lord
Kitchener is supreme. one is a states
man, Lord Rosehery. who has been
Prime Minister; who has since taken
himself out Of politics in order 10 criti-
else the more freely the modern methods
OF politics, and is listened 10 with that
eagerness which comes of expecting one
never knows what
Beneath the rank Of Earl there is no
member of this order. ! suppose there
might be II the Sovereign so decreed. but
il depends. perhaps, upon the Statutes Of
the Order. Lord Kitchener is but Wis
count: should that be a hindranCe 10 his
inclusion. which | do not assume At
any rate. 10 make a Niscount into an
Earl is an easy process. If. however.
YOU ask why this should not have been
done. there may be two answers Crea-
tions or advanCements in the Peerage
are. as a rule. made b. the Sovereign
upon the advice of the Prime Minister
and the coldness of the War Office 10
Lord Kitchener. on which I lately COM
mented. gives rise 70 the belief that he IS
not exactly persona Grnt1 to the Minister
of War. or 70 the Prime Minister, In
whose hands all ultimate ministerial
authority is supposed to rest; except
what rests with Mr. Redmond, o private
member Of Parliament from ireland.
The other reason Is in no way hypo-
thetical. For the two new Knights OF
the Garter who perhaps stood I'm Lord
Kitcheners path, are Dukes. They are
the Duke Of Argyll. about whom ] said
enough in the letter before this. and the
Duke Of Fife. who In not only a Duke
but son-in-law to the late King. Their
claims were not, ] suppose, 10 be put
aside, even for the victor of Khartoum
and the Commander in Chief who reor-
ganized the army Of India and brought II
to a point where it became possible to
saw that all military perls 20 that great
military dependency--unlcss our Mr..
Bryan still insists on calling it a colony
no longer exist. Outside Of the War
Office and Downing Street there Is. /
think, no living Englishman whom Eng
lishmen more honor. 1t is worth observ-
ing that not figure in the Royal Pro-
cessions has been so much remarked as
Lord Kitchener on his black charger,
riding alone, next to the King and queen
in their State carriage. Even the Garter
would not have added much to the re-
spect they bear him @. w. ).