Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-02-08

thoroughly ministerial, had reported in favor
of army reductions and yet the reductions
had not taken place after the lapse of four
years. Mr.. Hume moved an amendment on
the estimates, framing his motion on the very
words of the Finance Committees report.
The members of that committee voted with the
majority against Mr.. Hume and their own
recommendation, without attempting explana-
ton. They were silent to a man. The Ed
inburg Review had by this time discovered
Mr.. Humes value and we find him spoken
OF already as man whose persevering industry
was above all praise, and who must command
the good will of all but those to whom the
preservation of abuses was dearer than the
welfare of their country. Lord Castlereagh
on this occasion instituted the course of abuse
which attended Mr.. Hume hencetorth by at
Harlequin and Cloun Lord Palmerston and
Mr.. Huskisson were against him+ and his
propositions about saving the public money,
though founded on their own words. were
treated by them as some monstrous quackerv,
with which the house had no concern but to
be amused at it. 1t is instructive and very
cheering to contrast this tone Of public men in
1921 with what ii wls thirty years later,
while MIR. Hume was yet present to enjoy the
satisfaction. While observing him during his
later years in parliament, and seeing the un-
feigned and cordial respect with which the
veteran was regarded by leading members OF
all sorts of politics, il was curious TO remember
that he was called names by Walter Scott
Scott might have been glad to feel, as Hume
could, that he had refused Office and salary.
aud spent as much as would make a good for
tune IN the service of the public, besides all
the anxiety and torl of long life,-receiving
as his recompense the abuse and ridicule of
men who thought 1t genteel and refined TO live
at ease on the national funds What a com
mentary does time make on such a Judgment
the lnsolent critic not saved from debt and
poverty even by his large drafts on the public
purse, and the man he scorned having spared
many thousands of his own earned money to
do unrequlted public services While Scott
was begging franks for his correspondence
with his gossips, or the transmission of his
lucrative proof-sheets, Joseph Hume was pay
ing 81. In day for letters, which it was all
toll and no profit to receive or despatch. And
he had his share-perhaps no less than Scott
in promoting intellectual recreation and hol-
iday solace. Let any one stand in the British
Museum on Easter Monday, and he will see
something of what Joseph Hume did for the
pleasure of the multitude. If he had been
allowed his own way, he-the plodder of
parliament--would have been called the prince
of holiday-makers in merry England. His
advocacy of Canadian interests was thorough,
and on the whole wise. In the Reform strug-
gle, he poured out his strength and his money
like water. He was accused by the Borough
mongers of sending off candidates by coach,
properly addressed and forwarded TO certain
constituencies-half score in a day which
meant that, in the grand difficulty of the time
the finding candidates for liberal constituencies
Mr. Hume was the centre of influence, in
formation, and energy. The Wings then
learned the value of the troublesome radical
member, who was always exposing abuses,
and pleading the poor mans cause and from
that time Mr.. Hume's standing in parliament
was one which no one dared to despise, or at
tempted to underrate. Up to 1880 he sat for
Montrose, and again after 1872 In the inter-
val he was once member for MddIesex, and i.
for one parliament, member for Kilkenny
Since the dissolution of parties consequent on
the repeal of the Corn Laws he has been the
leader of the more liberal members who would
constitute party. He has refused office he
never dreamed of title he never spared his
purse, and he has really seemed to have no
personal desires at all. There has been moth
ing that anybody could do for him but to fur
ther his objects-to improve popular education
to foster popular health and pleasure-to
purify our political institutions and methods
and guard the blessings which have made Us
the happiest nation upon earth. We do not
know that more than this could be said in honor
of one who has not pretended to be ANYTHING
that he was not We do not know that more
could be said OF a man who devoted himself,
without self-regards, to life which is usually
called career of ambition. Without am
bltion, he worked harder than any aspirant of
his time. While called 'niggard,' he has
spent his private means without requital. He
has worked partly with express benevolent
designs, and partly for the qualification of his
own strong and wel-directed faculties. What
his dlslnterestedness has been, we know by
merely opening our eyes upon his career
What his services are, it is for future gener-
alton to appreciate when they find how far
their Joseph Hume introduced virtue into the
administration of Government strictness into
the routine of business truth and purity lin
theory at leasDinto our parliamentary repre-
sentation; the light of intelligence into the
mind OF the ignorant; and innocent pleasure
into the life of the working man. Joseph
hume Is not the man of whom studied eu-
ios's's prophesy immortality while he pores
over MS prosaic labors; but it is not improba-
ole that his name will be familiar and nleasan,
to mems ears when many a uepips iSolized bv
others or by himself shall havs oon. do,,, n.