Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-31

from that by which they Judge each other In the
the measure Of merit political opinion in the other il
lent If YOU go into private society, among the people in
the country nothing is than find my Lord
This Sir James That deprecated the Of his being
Tory Whig Radical Chartist to hear him denounc-
ed being politically ruined because OF aposacy
avowed or suspected change Of party Yet place these very
deacors in the gallery Of of the Houses of Parliament
and they would the object of their criticism ruling para
the the other assembly listened with de-
ference and attention, and treated with respect by the
persons supposed be injured by their ergvesaon. With
out stopping inquire into the morality of these apparent
hadctons they may be at ascrbed species of
cessy The Parliament is arena for the free discussion
of principles The House Of Commons has often been called
giant debating and very ofen the time Of great
party struggles it deserves that But ordinarily il takes
higher ground II is not battlefield for gladiatoral
comba the aim of which is personal distinction and public
honor alone but assembly in which the opinions and in
eres of rival classes are set forth and judged by the master
spirits Of the me who the real legislators in order that
they may be far possible equazed and mutually salts
fed without great several sacrifice For this purpose
necessary that those views and interests should be set forth
clearly either House and the men who do this the
most eiectuay, poinedy, truly, those who become
eminent they superadd the charms Of eoquence its
essential requisites, their power is the greater but the
fact remains the that il is to the ability with which the
individual expounds his opinions not to the supposed honesty
of his convictions that respect is paid If this be disputed,
let the reader the OF the distinguished
orators in Parliament, and he will find that, with few
exceptions, and those the Of the less talent they
all engaged successfully in defending opinions which dur
ing their former lives they had attacked The power Of
position them not the tendency OF the opinions the STAN
dard of merit in our Parliament.
And now for the general summing-up, the con-
clusion of the portrait of Sir ROBERT:
eff postery shall decide to rank Sir Robert Peel among
great men, he will rather be cassed among the statesmen than
among the He may be talked OF with Walpoe, but
not with Pitt Fox. Oratoy is severe and exacng art
Its object not merely to excite the passions sway the
Init adj
ration Of mankind II is study which will not brook div
ded attention The orator speaks rarely, at long intervals,
during which he sauraes his mind with his subject while
casting in the mould to which his taste guides him, as be-
ing the most calculated to enhance by its charm the intrinsic
worth beauty of his thoughts. Like the poet he works
either from love of his theme in the anticipation of triumph
But the exgencie of modern political warfare have called in
to being class OF public speakers whose illusions fall as tar
short of those Of the prossed orator in permanent beauty
they excel them immediate utility As the character Of the
House of Commons, emodeed under the Reform BILL has be-
businesske, the most popular and powerful
speakers there those who, rejecting the beautiful apply
themselves the practical Eoquence has become positive
element of power party leader compelled to enter with
almost equal energy into the most ng into the most i'm
portant affairs. He must be always ready with facts, with
arguments, with Stipulated enthusiasm he must identity him
self with all the interests Of those whom he would lead Even
werehere time for that preparation which great orator needs
there is no scope for his display.
SAT the head of this class of public speakesof those who
either do not aim fall short of acquiring the divine art
which, harmonlzng language till becomes music, and
shaping thought into talisman gives the right to be
called forth conspcuousy Sir Robert Peel
We have already said that he sacrifices much possible fame as
orator in order substantial influence states
Some may be prepared combat this say that Sir
Robert PeePs inherent medocy is such that he could not, if
he would, have rivaed the distinguished of living
orators much less the mighty dead But is difficult to sup
pose that Of such high and such varied aanmens one
in whom the scholastic ervor has survived amid the
NAL pursuits of stormy political life whoas for in
in his Of and tpuVn nj
speeches in Parliament public paceshas breathed the
purer atmosphere of poetry and philosophy it scarcely
be to believe that had be early devoted himself to the study
and imitation OF the greatest models TO the perfection OF sye
to the discriminating choice Of language, he could not have
elevated himself the highest rank No. Sir
Robert Pees aim is different His political weight depends
on his power of charming influencing the House of Com
mons He has studied political opinion until even its mnucst
shades made papable to him. They all more or less
represented in the popular assembly, and there be displays his
knowledge of al thor wants. and ay1s sclt concGaing
his purpose of all their vales and peudces Not but
finds from time to tme echo in the speeches of Sir Ro
tert Peel His caution, and, at the time, his deermi-
nation, well known that the slightest hint he lets fall
to his purposes instantly caught up One Of the
breahess attention with which he is heard that each
ton OF the House is anxious to penetrate the mystery of his
future policy knowing well that he will not utter any direct
promise flourish, or unless he fulfil it, II
he be oracuar IN his mystery he is often equally so in his
studied justification As clearly explain
himself when he peases, more adroy wrap
an unlnelugDle OF WORKS.
Look at him while in power from lsil to 1916, while still
he conceang his intentions with respect to the
cial policy OF the country Sometimes sturdy Radical
indignant Agncutur determines catch the eel by the tail
and eecty him. He puts plain direct question, and
demands answer You think Sir Robert must be fair
y posed his veil must be rent parties must
their old habits for he must say something positive which
war-cry be raised He rises, leans forward the Ia
BILE playing with his glasses puts his hands under the tails
OF his blue ockcoat and in the open and candid
declares his determination TO frankly the question that
has been put TO him. This is satisfactory II popiaes. All
are on the qH vire There is hushed silence all heads
stretched forward in expectation Of the Of poll
cy. Perhaps Lord John Russell and Lord Pamerson
change glance smile of ncreduly, for they know their
man. Meanwhile the soft bland voice has poured itself forth
its ntes tone heard in the most remote corner the bearing
bespeak full consciousness of the responsibility Of the duty
Of the moments the face the placid expression Of
cence You are fairly prepossessed for such But
what is he saying By that cheer from Mr.. Golden and his
Sancho Mr. Bright he appears to have said something plea
SAINT to the manufacturers But that Of delight from the
other side Oh he has convused the country gentlemen by
some weltimed compliment agriculture not yet the OBJ
ect OF his rdlcule And another cheer, general
Is the reward Of some pompous maxim Of the public good Il
is clear the House has warmed him. The more kindly
they entertain the candid grow the speakers tones the
more earnest is he TO do the best which the state of things al
lows. An elaborate statement follows Of the different
open to him. Of their several advantages and disadvantages in
all of which he adroy the preudices sumberng for
the moment around him, and establishes a sympathy with
each centeng hopes in himself and setting old haeds
against each other until having thus led the various parties
into mental melee he winds up with an 'upon the whole,
Of