Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUG. 27, 1903. Lord Salisbury.

Manawatu Herald, 27 August 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUG. 27, 1903. Lord Salisbury.

With the resignation of Lord Salisbury, a little more than a year ago, was witnessed the departure from the political arena of one of England’s most distinguished statesmen, and with his death on Saturday at the age of severny-two, we see the close of a career of usefulness to our Empire, such as appeals strongly to the sentiments of every patriotic Imperialist, For nearly fourteen years Lord Salisbury had exerted his great abilities as Prime Minister of the Crown, thus exceeding Mr Gladstone’s term of service by nearly two years. The deceased’s commanding abilities as a politician raised him high above the average of English political achievements, and his departure was as silent and unobtrusive as his career bad been great and far reaching in its influence. But Lord Salisbury’s career as Prime Minister does not comprise half the time and labour which he expended in the service of his country. He began hia political career at the early age of twentythree, when he entered the House of Commons. After fifteen years in that capacity, be took a seat in the House of Lords. Two years before this he bad been appointed Secretary of State for India. After having served seven years as a Cabinet Minister he became Prime Minister in 1885. An interesting comparison has been made between Lord Salisbury and Mr Gladstone with regard to their personal character and their politics. Whilst Gladstone’s politics took a democratic turn, Lord Salisbury when he began bis political career, threw the weight of his influence in favour of the aristocracy, under the confident belief that Government by the people would be neither in their own interests nor that of the State. He went so far as to throw up bis office as Secretary of State for India rather than support the reform legislation, and bis opposition to any reform in the franchise was continued long afterwards. In the face of this it is interesting and instructive to find that he ultimately became the favourite democratic Minister of his day, even exceeding in this respect the late Mr Gladstone. Although he did not adopt popular Governments in all its modern details, he was nevertheless of sufficient large mi tided ness to see its advantages and to accept it when it had been introduced, and his devotion to the interests of the people soon won their confidence, a confidence which they never had cause to deem misplaced, and which became strengthened by Lord Salisbury’s foreign policy. In regard to the latter, we need only to refer to his services to the Empire in Egypt and South Africa, and the excellent work done for us in connection with our relations with the Continent and the United States. Reserved and dignified in bearing, with a certain refined and philosophic serenity, he has left in the hearts of bis people a deep and lasting respect and admiration not only for the distinguished abilities but also for the personal qualities, which together constituted him one of the greatest statesmen of our Empire.