Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-16
DISRAELI.

The last number of the Edinburgh Review
contains an article the character aud career of
Disraeli, 10 which the Ex-chancelor of the Ex-
chequer is handled with great severity. The
reviewer evidently writes under the influence of
the strongest party prejudices, and his estimate
OF Disraeli's character man, n statesman, and
an ator. should be taken with many grains of
allowance. According to this writer, Dsraeli is
snowy rhetorician, and skiifu parliamentary
gladiator-but no statesman. Al speaker he is
ranked far below the first class of orators who
have illustrated the parliamentary history OF
England. and the only branch of public speaking
in which he is said to excel, is aggressive per-
sonality" There is undoubtedly great deal of
truth in this criticism on Disraei's oratory, but
as to his craftsmanship. the judgment of this
writer may yet be faisi6ed by future events
Disraeli has fallen from power, but he has suf-
fered no loss of reputation. He is still in the
vgor OF manhood the acknowledged leader of
his party, in full possession of its confidence, aud
his restitution to the helm of State is by means
an improbable event. He may yet grasp the
reins OF government under more suspicious cir
cumstauces than before, and justify, after all.
the expectations of his friends and admirers. The
history of Disraeis Premiership, so far from sha-
king public confidence in his abilities as legsln-
tor and statesman, seems rather to have enhanced
his reputation in the eyes friend and foe. If
he had been an ordinary man, such man
as the Edinburgh Review would have us believe,
we do not think that he could have occupied the
exalted and responsible position which he did,
f. ,l,
himself in some way other. and making his de-
hciencies patent to the nation. His biSterest
enemies, however, do not pretend that the late
Premier exhibited anything like intellectual or
moral imbeeiIity in his adj ninistration of the 60
vernment. He failed it is true. in carrying his
measures through Parliament bat he sustained
them in debate with ubisy and eloquence
that extored the admiration and applause even
Of his opponents. He was compelled to retire,
but he retired like the Parthian, hurting the
shafts of his envenomed satire thick aud last in
the face of the enemy.
As politician, Dsraeli appears to have been
quite as inconsistent any individual that could
be designated on this side of the Atlantic. He
commenced his political career as Tory in 1926,
when he got up a newspaper which survived just
six months The paper, it is said, never recov-
cred from the effects of article beginning-
"As we were sitting in opera box
In $50 Disraei appeared Radical candi-
date for Parliament, under the auspices of o. Com
NELL Hume and Bulwer, but was defented In
1888 he was again candidate on the same side
but with no better success. The first symptom
of his detection from the Liberal ranks of
the most unequivosal kind. "He stood for
Taunton, (says the Review writer) de-
clared and full blown Conservative in 1885 !;
and he instantly proceeded to attack his quon-
dam allies and patrons. particularly the Irish
Liberator, in the coarsest terms; Mr.. O'Con-
nell replied in his characteristic style, and after
charging his assailant with charlatanisun, aposta
~, and ingratitude, he wound up his vengeful
diatribe by sarcasm which went straight, like
a poisoned arrow, to the mark. and has chung
like the shirt of Nessus: Il cannot said O'Con
nell, 'dvest my mind of tho belief that, if this
fellows genealogy were traced, it would be found
that he was the linea descendant and true heir
at law Of the impenitent thiefwho atoned for his
crimes upon the cross Maddened by tais ter
ribie hit, Mr.. Disraeli made matters worse by
the phrenzied indulgence of his evaporation.
He covered himself with merted ridicule by in
diting bombastic challenge to Mr.. Morgan o.
Council, which, as he might have anticipated.
was dscline1; and the absurdity of his position
reached its climax when he wound up epis-
tie to the great Agtator I'VE shall meet at
Philippi Il. e. the House of Commons, whore
I will seize the fret opportunity of intlicting
castigation tor the insults you have lavshed on
me;'-a pledge, by the way, which he never
attempted to redeem. He addressed another
letter to Mr.. Morgan O'Connell, in which he OK
presses hope that the father had been so in
suited as to render it incumbent some Nom
Der of the family to yindicate its outraged hon
our. The sons of O'Conne. however, observes
Mr.. Francis, looked the matter purely
ridiculous aud they only published the cores
pondence in the papers. The public we're much
of the same opinion. They INDUCED in good
hearty laugh at the Cambyses' vein of the would-
be champion OF Conservatism His political in-
consistency was ascribed to an iniirmity of judg-
nent almost amounting to craziuess. The
treme rashness and 10 udoious haste of Mr..
Dsraeli to achieve greatness had excited strong
prejudices against him..
In 1887, Mr.. Dsraeli obtained the long covet>
ed object of his ambition. He was elected
member for Maidstone The effect of his mai
den speech in the House of Commons is well
known 1t was cut short by an irrepressibie
burst of laughter, and he concluded with the
memorable words; Il have begun several times
many things, aud have often succeeded at last.
| hall s.t Int tI,e III
when you will hear me- When Woodfall told
Sheridan, after hearing his maiden effort, that
public spsakng not his line, the future rival