NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE first and most important decisions as to the recon. struction of the Cabinet were announced on Friday morning. After much hesitation, mainly caused, we imagine, by his personal delight in the work, Lord Salisbury resigns the Foreign Office, but, accepting the dignified sinecure of Lord Privy Seal, remains Prime Minister. This is the great change of all, and is one which will be cordially welcomed by all who understand public affairs. Lord Salis- bury has. been an admirable and singularly successful Foreign Minister, but it is impossible that any one who holds that great office, with its hourly and heavy responsibilities, should be an effective chief of the Execu- tive, and in the times which are at hand the country will urgently need such a chief. The war has re- vealed that the great machine of administration has grown cumbrous and in some departments even weak, and the searching reforms which are required can only be carried through by Secretaries who have the energetic support of a Premier with his intellect and his time unem- barrassed by departmental duties. Lord Salisbury knows how to govern as well as how to administer, and it is govern- ing work which is now required of him, and which he has set himself, perhaps with some reluctance, but with a full sense of his duty, to perform.
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