We regret to notice that Mr. Childers is retiring from
politics, on the ground of ill-health, at the compatively early age for politics of sixty-four. He has agreed, at the request of his constituents, to sit for South Edinburgh till the dissolution, but will not seek re-election. Mr. Childers has not been an originating man, but he has shown much capacity as an administrator. He can understand and follow a large policy, and he accepts democracy without allowing it to dictate to- him too much. The tone of contempt in which he is now written of is absurd as well as unmannerly. We do not want a dozen Premiers in a Cabinet, and Mr. Childers was an excellent average chief of almost any department. Ties which could not be broken bound him to Mr. Gladstone ; but we doubt if he has been at any time enthusiastic for Home-rule, or if he would have gone many yards with the social programme of the New Radicals. Indeed, his dis- tinctive mark was sense.
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