New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-09

N mot buestloh WHICH UntOniStS Will
determine before the party meeting on
Monday is whether Mr.. Balfour can be
induced TO remain leader on any terms
satisfactory to himself II a change be
necessary the choice Will probably lie
between Austen Chamberlain and Sir
Edward Carson, with F. f. Smith as a
wei groomed dark horse and Walter
hume Long also In the running.
AS Lord Lansdowne is not likely 10 be
displaced in the leadership of the Lords,
the selection OF Austen Chamberlain
would bring a second liberal Unionist
to the top and irritate the old Tories.
For this reason, and because Sir Edward
Carson is the most strenuous opponent
Of Home Rule, the latter may be pre-
ferred
The Ministerial party, including the
Irish Home Rulers, join the Unionists in
regrettinS that debates in the House Of
Commons will lose great share Of in
terest when the figure to whom followers
and opponents alike conceded intellectual
pre-eminonce is no longer in the fore
front Of the battle
One result of Mr.. BaIfour's resignation
is that the Unionlst party will, for the
present at all events. return to the dual
control which prevailed when the late
Marquis of Salisbury led in the House
of Lords and Mr.. Smith and later Mr.
Balfour, in the House of Commons In
theory there may be objections to the
plan but in practice it worked very
well. as many older members of the
party tonight are testifying
Next Mondays caucus meeting IS con-
hned TO Unionist members Of the House
Of Commons, which means that the posi-
ton of the Marquis of LansdOwne as
leader Of the Opposition in the Lords is
not affected. 1t is believed, however.
that Lord Lansdowne is himself not in
the best of health. and might desire. be-
fore many months have passed. to be
relieved Of the cares Of leadership.
Arthur James Balfour. who for more than
a quarter of a century has held a foremost
place in British public life. is slxty-three
years old. lie is the son of James Matt
land Balfour. member Of prominent
Scotch family His mother was Lady
Blanche Cecil sister Of the late Lord Sails
bury, who launched him upon his political
career At Eaton and Cambridge the young
man won a reputation for scholarship of
more than ordinary excellence.
With this prestige he began his political
career in 1874 as Conservative member of
Parliament for HEREFORD In 1873 he be-
came private secretary 10 his uncle, Lord
Salisbury. then Foreign Secretary. In that
year he aligned himself with the so-called
Fourth Party. with sir John Gorst Sir
Henry Drummond Wolf and Lord Randolph
Churchill with this party he remained
until 1855, after which he returned 10
straightline Conservatism by becoming "A
Privy Councillor and head of the Local Gov
eminent Board. When his uncle resumed
power. in 1856 the young statesman was
made a Cabinet member and Secretary for
Scotland.
In these years Mr. Palfour had the mis-
fortune 10 become known as 2 dilettante. a
reputation which his enemies saw 70 It,
was never quite lost. His authorship Of
several philosophical works gave strength
10 this impression. Nevertheless. he was
also becoming recognized as a dcbater Of
force and fuency.
In 1857 Sir Michael Hicks Beach retired
from tho Chief Secretaryship Of ireland.
and 10 this important post Mr.. Baltour
succeeded The repressive policy pursued
by him in his new capacity brought n
storm around his head but proved his
strength and courage to such an extent
that he soon came to be regarded as his
narty's future leader lie made an eX-
tensive tour Of the western districts Of
ireland I'm 1890. and met with p cordial re-
ception. In the famine year of 1895 he
epdeared himself still further to the Irish
heart by his public appeal, resulting in a
collection Of ss0OOo0t Another feature Of
his Irish policy was the formation OF the
Congested Districts Board.
At the death in 1891 of w. H. Smith
Tnionist leader i'm the House Of Commons
Mr. Balfour succeeded him, bur few
months later his party was defeated and
he was RELOCATED to the leadership OF the
opposition in the House Of Commons. in
1895. however. with the return Of the Union
fists. he became once more First Lord OF
the Treasury and leader of the House. His
first session. with Sir William Harcourt
leading the Opposition, was troubled one
but as he gathered experience his claim 10
remain in the leadership grew steadily
stronger
In 1902. on the retirement Of Lord
Salisbury, he became Prime Minister. The
next year Mr.. Chamberlain made his fiscal
proposals. and Mr. Balfour opposed the
suggestion to tax food on the ground that
the country was not ready for such a
measure He committed himself only 10
| the so-called policy Of retaliation. He re-
signed in 1905. and an the following cleo
ton was overwhelmingly defeated with
his party
For nearly seven years ne has led the
| Opposition. but there have been growing
signs Of disahection among his followers
especially on the part Of Mr. Chamber
lsin's party of tariff reform and the fol-
lowers Of Lord Halsbury. who opposed
any interference " the legislative
powers of the House of Lords. Criticisms
of Mr.. Balfour's cautious leadership have
grown more and more frequent in Tory
newspapers and speeches. The outcome
Of this was yesterdays action.
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