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 286 THE CECILS

and leader of the House of Commons, and Lord Salisbury himself returned to the Foreign Office in place of Lord Iddesleigh, whose enforced resignation coincided with his tragic death.

Another important change in the Cabinet occurred in March, when Mr. Balfour took the place of Sir M. Hicks-Beach as Irish Secretary, and began the five years' tenure of that office which formed so epoch-making a period in the government of Ireland. It also proved the making of his career. At the time of appoint- ment he was hardly taken seriously as a politician, being looked upon as a clever but rather indolent trifler, though Lord Salisbury, whose private secretary he had been at the time of the Berlin Congress, was no doubt aware of his ability. Yet within a remarkably short space of time he was not only recognised as one of the best debaters in the House, but had shown himself possessed of the highest qualities of statesmanship. Mastering the facts of the situation, and making up his mind that law must be maintained in Ireland at all costs, he refused to be turned from his purpose either by threats or sophistries, and the final result of his regime was that crime in Ireland practically ceased. Moreover, he became one of the most popular figures in Parliament, and won the respect even of the Irish members, who had received the announcement of his appointment with scornful laughter. And on the death of W. H. Smith, in October, 1891, Mr. Balfour was recognised as his natural successor,

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