The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-02 00:00:00

TILE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood's illagaxine.

There is an excellent article here, entitled "Par-

liamentary Duelling," which we can hardly too ,
strongly recommend to general perusal, containing
as it does such forcible sketches and correct criti-
cisms. It is really quite a relief, at this present
juncture, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer
seems to exercise a mesmeric influence over so many
minds, to find a writer bold enough openly to at-
tack him, and dexterous enough to demonstrate
most clearly the fallacies of his arguments, the
sophistries of his conduct, and the general glamour
that he casts over men, with abilities that are first-
rate, but have no pretensions to rank him as a genius,
still less to constitute him the unquestioned
wielder of our destinies and the fixer of the fate of
generations yet to come. The most striking proof
is here adduced of the make-up style of his elo-
quence, that no one can refer to his speeches after-
wards. They are as evanescent in their impression
as they are powerful in their effect. " Who
remembers a speech of Mr. Gladstone's, who can
quote any of his expressions. We cannot call to
mind a single phrase which he has originated, and
which has taken just hold on the popular mind."
It is said that Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Bright are
supposed to rank after Mr. Gladstone; but " who
cannot call to mind dozens of their phrases which
have become household words, founders of thought,
and the watchwords of party." The following re-
marks on the opinions of those who persist in call-
ing Mr. Gladstone the first orator of the day, are
admirable.
" What would his speeches be without his 'go ?' His
speeches are not seldom contrasted with those of Mr. Dis
raeli, who, from his being sometimes deficient go,'
invites the depreciatory comparisons of those who swear
by Gladstone. We hope that we can treat of this question
on purely critical grounds and without any party bias. We
believe that the most impartial judges will agree with us in
thinking that, however great may be Mr. Gladstone's pre-
sent
ascendancy in the House of Commons, Mr. Disraeli's
speeches will generally hear a closer examination. Mr.
Disraeli scarcely ever opens his mouth without letting fall
some remarkable expression, without propounding some
novel fact, or without starting some original and subtle ar-
gument in which we see distinctly the man of genius. Mr.
Gladstone has his excellencies, but they are not of this cha-
racter. They are summed up in the words—readiness, ra-
pidity, and rage. These are marvellous qualities, in spite
of the fact that they are apt to degenerate into rashness ;
but we protest against the assumption that qualities such
as these are sufficient to constitute oratory entitled to be
described as transcendent. To tboso who speak of Mr.
Gladstone's speeches as transcendent and Demosthenic, we
would put the simple question: Whether any one could
possibly regard them as models of argument or composi-
tion, and would think it worth while to analyse them,
reason by reason and phrase by phrase ? We imagine that
Mr. Gladstone's eloquence would be much more truthfully
described as refined rant. Let us not be mistaken. The
public are apt to imagine that refinement and rant are in-
compatible. They suppose that a ranter must be an igno-
rant, vulgar fellow, who succeeds only by roaring. And at
first sight we have little doubt that some persons will see
only a paradox in the assertion that a gentleman,—who
moves in the highest circles of society, who is skilled in the
elaboration of facts and figures, and whehas been so highly
educated that he is chosen to represent the University of
Oxford ; astonishes tho members for the manufacturing
boroughs by the Latin he quotes, and sends forth three
great volumes on the most celebrated poet of antiquity,
should be guilty of rant. Is Saul also among the prophets?
And is Gladstone also among the ranters ? We mean se-
riously what we say. We are not of those who subscribe
to the vulgar dictum that the test of eloquence is the mo-
mentary effect which it produces. If that were a correct
test, then indeed the Whitfields, the Spurgeons, the Pun
shone, and the Gladstones, would be the greatest of all
orators, for the effect they produce is quite marvellous. But
read their orations—or, still better, read what they are
pleased to write withthe utmost care and then say whether
there is anything in their thoughts, or in their manner of
expression, which entitles these men to be regarded as the
greatest masters of persuasive thought and eloquent lan-
guage.

Reference is made to the skirmishes that ensued
between the rivals par excellence in the debates on
the budget. It is said that the leader of the Oppo-
sition has not had justice rendered to his brilliant
answer to his opponent, when he spared no taunt
that he could employ on the first night of the.ques-
tion. The newspapers have practically ignored
what was a masterpiece. This is not to be won-
dered at when we remember the Gladstone mania
that pervades the press, with but .very few excep-
tions. It is also satisfactory to find mention made
of Mr. Gladstone's contemptuous manner. He
shonld remember that arrogance and anger are not
arguments, but he has become a convert to the Whig
code of etiquette, and in forsaking the Conservatives
he took a long farewell of that gracious manner,
that dignified bearing which pre-eminently dis-
tinguished all their ranks when in power, and in
which their opponents, under whatever leader they
are ranged, are always lamentably deficient. Mr.
Horsman's speech must not be omitted from a
favourable mention, and really that hon. member
has added immensely to his reputation, and stands
forth a shining example to the host of independent
Liberals who face the world in arms when the des-
tinies of the country are entrusted to benighted
Tories, but who are as meek as lambs when the
Liberal cause is deserted and betrayed by their
leaders. Some extracts are given of Mr. Hors-
man's speech on the paper duties, which are perfect
in their way, and which ara worthy of notice to
alt who may have passed them on in the whirl of
affairs. They are telling and they are true. ,It
is this which gives to satire its sting, and all except
the most determined and devoted adherents to the
Chancellor will add their testimony to the singular
merit of these pages. Perhaps the most startling
truth was, after speaking of shams, to exclaim—
" In the estimation of most people, probably, Mr.
Gladstone's presence on the Ministerial Bench was
the greatest sham of all." It is impossible in the
limits of a cursory notice to do justice to the many
points of interest and importance to be found inter-
spersed in this admirable article. It is to be appre-
ciated not only from the matter it contains, but
from the manner it evinces. Now is the time for
all who can, to express themselves strongly against
the tyranny exercised by the occupants of the Tre-
sury benches, who gained their places by trickery,
and who are forming alliances with the parties at
hotne, and belligerent tyrants abroad, to keep them-
selves in office, while their victims must not even
speak. If they had their way they would repeat the
nursery adage to all loquacious opponents—" You
may hear and see, but must say,nothing." If one
man has been of late more over-rated than another,
it is the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but the
day must corns when such fallacies will be un-
masked as those which pervade his policy, and the
voice of an oppressed and indignant people will
denounce the framers of the iniquitous Income-tax
and the manoeuvres of the unpatriotic treaty and
the unfair budget. Norman Sinclair becomes a
little more lively in this instalment, and it
is a relief to pass to Italy, and to contemplate
the dangers that befell the wanderers among
the Glaciers of the High Alps, after the mo-
notonous city life so lately led by this hero. Some
of the verses are very smart, especially those
entitled " Our worthy friend Nap," which are a
sort of sequel to the " Sly Little Man who lives
over the Way," that before appeared in this perio-
dical. " Poetic Aberrations" is the name of
an article which discusses the merits of Mrs.
Browning's last work. The decision pronounced
is not a favourable one, and the writer comes to the
conclusion that she has done no service to others,
and added no fame to herself, in the work she de-
clares an angel told her to write ; but, it is said,
" the communication came direct from a pernicious
little imp who had been turned out of Pandemo-
nium for profanity." Some will be pleased with
the sketch of Lady Hamilton, and there are two
or three articles on political subjects, not, however,
possessing anything striking by way of novelty,
and some remarks on the Duke of 'Wellington's
career that are suggested by the work of Brialmont.