The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-01
A From tbs London Spectator.
1axxf Hahn HnassiI

Lord JShn Russell
Why has Lord John Russell wasted such noble oppor-
tunies and sunk his political IN failure SO con-
trased with his earlier successes why ~ spite oil an
that people have thought him be, has he so overly
turning from the position Of the man to his character,
By the facts shall you know lis main features ~ 10
impossible that those who best acquainted WIN Tue
be wholly mistaken and there are traits when
come out at times publicly In the picture drawn
by his friends. Lord John Is OF kind and atechonaie
disposition anxious to please aud be pleased and pro-
his GOODNESS and haute TO strangers but such an neon
ssency is not Suppose his nature to need strictly
personal relations IN order 70 move his feelings ana you
chases him such faithful renue, and the total want OF
hearty people loving beraty in his public conduct He
eynces an value lo ms on ne m enud
the unarnished honor OF his esculcheon his patriotism
is intellectual and honorary and is not animated by
stirring and deeply moved regard for the multitude that
lies in The wide field beyond his personal circle He loves
hs country y but is the country OF history, not oil the
living souls L at people il.
Lord Johns intellect is cultivated rather than naturally
great and the culture has tended rather TO check positive
errors than TO inpar positive power Hence the dscIep
ancy between Sydney Smiths famous saying that he ma
fleet moments notice. and the faerlng in his states
manship He wants political insight and foresight his
speeches singular among those OF their rank Tor bare
Of reasoning; he scarcely ever seems TO know the
drift and inevitable effect OF his measures 10 this
day he does not understand REFORM every year exhibits
an increasing OF clearness the real nature Of
his earliest idol, religious liberty; and he has just at
ronted that early idol by bill which he excuses on the
score that his views Of Catholic emancipation were
not know whittier he is going and, in spite OF personal
courage, which mayhap would lead him to the block
with cool an intrepidlly William Russell. his
craftsmanship is datory, tentative, and hclpessy tmd
Probably his education, which was peculiar was not
the happies for his nature Departing from the usual
curriculum in which English youth Of high family are
trained, he sent to Edinburgh. He lived in the house
of Playfa and educated among the Scotch phoso-
piers and whg dts,at Hence early disposition 10 lite
ralsm, which may be taken the English reflex Of the
douce skepcism that then distinguished the Scottish
Athens. His birth sent him into Parliament a matter
the same time in his essays on the constitution he
lion OF the day, hope OF the wing party political
descendant OF Fox, his standard and model the lead Of
the test and corporation ac-debang placed in his
care and, from that time, not too well endowed with
patrons in high places. the liberals played their game
a thew erected o thew
not discern how much OF his successive lustres
was borrowed For it may be said that Lord John has
originated nothing OF the achievements connected with
his name and career; the religious liberty crusade
gifto his hands free trade he took up after Peel Mr.
Ward gave him the appropriations clause. not long since
like fanting woman, Support me!"-by the g pres
sure from without" This want Of self .relance in con-
structiye acts partly explains that want OF command over
subordnates which left foreign policy at the mercy of
Professionalism of Grey-fnance of a Wood; it
explains his laundering to accept even something like
Locke Kings adverse notion and TO seek budget among
The political activity OF Lord John Russell has passed
in action he has future. His most philosophc views
are reospective-al contained within the constitutional
range from the reign of Henry the First TO the reform
bill There, despite his regulations of nay, he stops
he does not perhaps mean to STOP but he does not
further His regulations honest but not the less
false. The reform bill is still his futureas the widow
dwes the days of her courtshp Yet he will have his
use. Not of the kind projected forhim by writer in the
Morning Chroncle-an imitation of Macaulays retreat
from active craftsmanship TO history But the writer in
the Chronicle had apuposc to serve with cleverness,
painstaking and malice that remind of the bitter po
ltca writings in vogue thirty years ago. he drags
from the shelves early work by Lord John Russell,
in order damage and blacken his personal character
The Nun OF Arrouca is used TO represent the fallen
Premier the sentimenalist writer OF Portuguese
Werter the retrospective reviewer labors with out
ward OF easy pleasantly which i'll DISCUSSES the
unfair twisting TO hold up Lord John green"
mancis and in morals prototype of the modern French
novests. This is "too bad"
No-literature not the Pemers vocation neither
TO progressive craftsmanship Lord John has done his
active work; his vocation henceforward is TO repose
amidst his order, occasionally 10 don his hung up
in defence OF "the ancient ways" Liberal in relation
the past, without regeneration OF backsdng Lord John
tory in relation TO the future; and need not be
very Responding OF future which has John Russell
instead of Castlereagh for its tory type He should be
translated TO the quiet of the Upper House-there s
and revise the acts OF the Commonsto delay abaie, and
i veto