New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
London. February ~.

eXpectcdly and Mr.. Leopold MaSse is /
one of them. For a moment he had in |
keening the honor Of English Journal /
ism. and IL is due TO him to say that /
he seemed entirely disposed 10 keep il
intact. The Parliamentary inquiry into /
the contract between Mr. Marconi and !
the Post Office has been fruitful n (
sensations. some of them amounting To F,
scandals: and the MaXse incident is the !
latest. Details YOU vii! have had ny
cable and | go into none OF them Il
Is enough 10 deal with what directly
affects the present issue between Press
and Parliament The main fact may
be stated in sentence. Mr.. Ma%se'
who is Editor and Proprietor OF inc
National Review published certain !
statements in his Review which. to put
il mildly. suggested a suspicion that /
three Ministers had early knowledge oil
the Marconi Post Office agreement ana
made. or might have made. a STOCK
exchange profit out of their knowledge.
There was a great deal else, but inns
is enough for my purpose
Summoned before the Committee, MT
Maxso was ask ed to say from whom ne
heard these statements and who wrote
hin letters relating to the matteN lie
refused 10 answer. Thercupon he was (
warned that the Committee had power
TO compel him To answer. rs hc sun
refused they reported him To the House.
There was an expectation Of scene
Mr.. MaXse at the Bar of the House III
terrogated by the Speaker and defend
ing himself in set Grafton would nave
provided al entertainment OF the KIN"
Mr.. Lloyd George might describe as
rare and refreshing fruit. But the iruit
turned to ashes before il reached the
lips The Prime Minister, I'm view OF
the latencss OF the session and OF the
dissolution of the Committee. which
can only renew its life BY reappoiut-
ment. advised the House 10 let the
matter drop tor the present. and
dropped it was. Imagine Mr. MaXsc's
diSar pOiutmcut and chagrin. Mr.. Car
vim calls il triumph But 4 l. "a
triumph which tn, victor. If victor he
be, would 5oyfully exchange FOR defeat
He wa about 10 become an historical
figure: H. would surely have dencd luc
authority of the House. a. ne did of tho
Committee. Impenitent and rcbellious.
ne would nave gone 10 the Clock Tower
H hungered tor imprisonment and
mqrtyrdom lie has missed his chance
which may or may not recur
Mr. NaXsc has long had reputation !
peculiar 10 himself He may be- said g.
have inherited il. Ills father. Admiral /
MaXsc was figure apart IN English .
life a singularly agreeable man with a
singular talent for differing from the
rest of the world. | saw much of him
at one time liked him as everybody
did. agreed with him almost never ou
practical questions. but none the less
admired his love OF the ideal. which hc
loved all TN" better If II We're impos-
sible lie had high aims. III content
with all existing social organiza: lions.
he saw no reason why England or the
world in general should not presently
become now Utopia. For that new
community he was ready To draw the
sword. or 10 draw up Constitution.
or 10 legislate. though his true faith
lay not III constitution or IN statutes
but IN speculative conceptions.
intellectually. he was more a French
man than an Englishman, with d
Frcnchman's trust in formulas. and in
principles provided they were his own
principles He lived good deal in
Paris sometimes found my way 10
his apartment I'm fhe Boulevard 81
German. lie was one Of the few for
eigners who at that time had foot IN
various camps. and knew how TO be
friends with such Radicals as Louis
Blanc. and vet sure Of a welcome at
some Of the ncst houses in the Eau
bours. Personal charm was the secret.
What did il matter whether In his
heart he cherished dreams Of mill
lennium. when ne could make this
uregent life so extremely agreeable 10
the men and women among whom he
actually dwolto Nor did his convictions
turn into preiudiccs or poison his inter
course with friends whose convictions
were quite other than his. King or
ueasant. Rcd Republican or Aristocrnt
a man was "a be judged as man.
such was his theory. and his theories
,,oro of q KIND 10 be translated into the
conduct OF life.
Born of such q father, MIR. Leo Maxse
has gone his own way. He had abili-
tios and courage. 1t is the fashion To-
dav--the fashion in the prcss-since
,hie incident To- speak of him PERHAPS
rather extravaganty. Read some Of
those notices. and you would think Mr..
uovse a modern St Augustine. me
,olf of him saint and the other half
something between Du Guesclin and
D,Artsgnan. In plain fact, he IL IT
lance. cauricious as woman. Like
uoman. he is much governed by senN-
ment and his politics are hardly less
emotional than Mrs. Pankhursfs. If
he happened to b. an advocate OF
r.ouan suffrage, which believe he Is
go, his Mace would be by Mrs. Pank-
,,rs,,s side. He is far too much the
Gentleman TO take part in the splteiul
iit.le business Of window smashing ana