DEATH OF MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1340, 18 January 1912, Page 5

DEATH OF MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE.

. i t SKETCH OF HIS CAREER. - By Telegrnph-Press Association-Copyright - London, January 16. ' Mr. Henry Labouchere, who was suffcr- " ing from heart failure, has died at 1 Florence. (Kcc. January 17, 10.10 p.m.) i Rome, January 17. t llr. Labouchere had been ill for eight days, suffering from bronchitis. He will bo buried at .San Miniato. The late Night. Hon. . Henry Labouchere was one of the most picturesque. „ personalities in the British House of Commons. The eldest sou of the Into ' llr. John Labouchere. of Broomo Hall, I Surrey, he was born in London in 18^1. i . As his name indicates, Labouchere came r from a Freuch-Hugenot family of old i. standing. He was educated at Eton College, and 1 in ISSI entered the diplomatic service. Ho held appointments as attache at Washington, Munich, Stockholm, Frankfort, St. Petersburg, Dresden, and Constantinople. Labouchere left the diplomatic service in 1861, and gave his attention to politics, making 111 is Parliamentary debut for Windsor, in lb'66. Ho was elected tho following year as member for Middlesex, and in IS6S ho married Henrietta, daughter of Mr. James Hodson, of Dublin. In I 1880 he was returned to Parliament as member for Northampton, which constituency he represented continuously un--1 til 190G, 'when lie definitely retired from - active politics. He was made, a Privy - Councillor in 1905. ; Mr. Labouchere might very well be described as having been a Parliamentary 1 institution. "Lnbby," as ho Mas fami--5 liarly known, was one of the recognised jesters in tho House; his speeches sparkled with flashes of irresistible wit, which provoked roars of laughter from cveryside of that august and deliberative assembly. When "Lobby" was on his feet tho delighted House was always ready to give him its attention. Even when serious—and he frequently was—his incorrigible propensity for presenting things in their humorous aspect made a ridiculous burlesque of the grav--1 it)' of tho position. Labouchere had an instinctive inclination to champion any particular cause or body of men anparently put under con--3 ditions of disadvantage, and if for' any D reason he felt that he could not identify himself with the principles of whatever j appealed to his sympathy for the weaker party, ho did his best to see that the cause or the men got a fair hearing. This idiosyncracy may have had something to do w.ith his stubborn and lifelong allegiance to the Irish Home Rule .- party, an allegiance which dated from tho days before the extension of popular suffrage in the Irish constituencies, when the Irish Nationalists in the House numbered not. more than seven or eight, under the leadership of Charles Stuart Par- " nell. "He was the life and soul of Op- ' position in tho Unionist Parliament e elected in 18SG," writes Mr. H. W. Lacy. A year earlier, whilst Mr. Gladstone was still struggling with his Homo Eule Bill, Labouchere almost succeeded in. closing up the fissure in tho Liberal ranks created by the secession of Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Hartingdon. On May 10, 1886, Mr. Gladstone roso in the. House of Commons to move the second reading of his momentous Bill. The two preceding days had been occupied by Mr. Labouchere in bringing about an understanding on a i particular point. Mr. Chamberlain, whoso confidence he at that time possessed, ' intimated his readiness to withr draw opposition to the Bill if Mr. Glads stone would consent to certain provisions s whereby the Irish members should sit at Westminster and vote on questions of Imperial moment, including matters of finance. Amidst cheers, Mr. Gladstone expounding his Bill, indicated that it decreed the exclusion of tho Irish members from Westminster. As matters turned out, that v;as the very rock upon which tho ship split. .Mr. Labouchere r was able, on the Saturday afternoon preceding tho second reading, to convey to Downing Street an agreement in writing, dictated T>y Mr. Chamberlain, promising peace if, in .moving the second reading, . the Premier would indicato amendment in the desired direction. By chance or design not explained to this day, Mr. Gladstone neglected the opportunity. He made no reference bearing on the secret ' compact, and when ho sat down, the Bill, the Ministry, and the fortunes of tho Liberal party were doomed." Just as Labouchre's political services . were more or less overshadowed by his reputation as a Parliamentary jester, his public services as proprietor of the weeky newspaper "Truth" tended to throw his political character more, or less into i the background. An able journalist, he first made his mark by his work as correspondent of tho "Dailv News" during 1 the Siege of Paris. His "Diary of a. Bei sieged Resident," which appeared from day to day in the columns of tho "News," _ and was afterwards published as a volume, was entertaining, humorous, and realistic. Ho was at that time, be it noted, one of tho proprietors of the Daily News," and the idea of proceeding to Pans was as much inspired by his characteristic love of sensations as b'v his desire to furnish "copv" for the ■ i>,cws. Ho was afterwards associated I™ Edmund Yates in founding "Tho "orld, a new venture in society journalism. The policy of "The World" was 1 not suited to Labouchere's • neculiar temperament, however, and he withdrew i , ron i, lh ?i pa P e , r , to launch his. famous ■ wc f¥>''. Truth." This celebrated jour- • iial Had tho unusual experience of pavins s from its very first number. ' •- ' His special delight was to expose, in the columns of his paper, some successful adventures in pretentious financial schemes, some hypocritical projector of sham philanthropic institutions, sonfo charlatan with whom, because of his terug porary influence and success, most other s people were willing to try conclusions. Labouchere s plan was simplo and straightforward. He published an article in 'Truth' containing the most direct and explicit charges' cf imposture and traud against the man whom ho had determined to expose, and invited that man to bring an action against him in a court of law, and obtain, if ho could, damages for slander. He usually intimated politely that he would not avail himself of any , preliminary and technical forms which might interposo unnecessary delay, and would do all he could as defendant to .. hasten and facilitate tho trial of the action. It happened that in many cases B tho personage thus challenged to legal 5 conflict cautiously refrained from accepting the invitation; he knew that Labou--0 chore had plenty of money, perceived that r he was not to be scared out of bis allcgaL (. tions, and deemed the wisest course to be ,_ to treat "Truth" and its owner with silent contempt. On those occasions when the s subject, of "Labby's" strictures accepted '■ the challenge, the attention of the public was riveted on the case, and either way, r whether victory or defeat eventuated,' the publicity in which the complainant subsequently found himself involved made it impossible for him to work much harm in the future. Even Labouchere's strongest political opponents have readily acknowledged his public services in exposing shams and quackeries of various kinds at considerable pecuniary risk or cost to 1 himself." As might bo expected from "Labby's" somewhat eccentric, personality, many stories are told of his sayings and doings. Referring to his independence of spirit, '■ it is said that on being appointed attache at Constantinople ho failed to report at : , tho proper time, and subsequently explained to the. Foreign Office that as no provision had been made for his travelling expenses, and as his private means were limited, be was obliged to make the journey on foot. When at Washington bo was, on ono occasion, visited by an irate countryman, who wished to see the Minister. I "Not here! Then I shall wait till he comes." ■ "Very well," said the attache, "pray take a chair." The visitor waited " [ and waited. Hours glided past, the attacho meanwhile calmly proceeding with his work and cigarettes. Presently La- . bouchcro collected his papers, cleared his table, and prepared to depart. His visitor eyed him sternly, and then inquired. "Can you tell me where the British Minister is just now?" Labouchere replied, imperturbably lighting a cigarette, "I really i. cannot tell you where he is just now, r but us he left New York for England : , last Saturday, I should judge him to be o about half-way across the Atlantic." "Why s didn't you tell me that ho had left, for England?" roared the man. "You never a-ikod me," roplwd "Labby" with provokins urbanity.