Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-04-16

For the last nuarer of century few men have occu-
pied more distinguished position among the statesmen
of England than Edward Jeoiroy fourteenth Ear OF
Derby, now, for the second time Prime Minister of
England He was born at Knowsley Park, within a
few miles of Liverpool in 1799 was educated at Eaton
and Oxford and entered the House OF Commons in 1921
His grandfather the eccentric old Earl OF Derby, was
more famous for his avry, collection OF rare and curl
Gus animals well stocked wine cellars and horses
than for his political services and his father Lord
Stanley being then alive he acquired his early fame as
a debater and a statesman under the name of E. e.
Stanley The death OF the former IN 1854 give him the
courtesy title of Lord Stany and at his fathers deceas
in 1851 he succeeded to the family honors and immense
wealth. The earldom was created by Richard III, in
1885 and in nea descent the present s the fourteenth
Earl of Derby and has become the Premier Earl OF
England since the Eardom of Shrewsbury became ex-
tinct.
When Mr. Stanley first entered the political arena he
attached himself to the whig party and took active
part in the opposition to the administration of the Earl
of Liverpool In 1927 he took Office under secretary
for the colonies in George Cannngs ministry was ap
pointed chief secretary for Ireland in 1880 in Lord
Gray's cabinet and by the side of Henry Brougham,
Lyndhurst, Thomas Darlington Macauy, and Lord John
Russell fought bravey in the cause of reform, and con-
ributed in no small degree to the passage of the famous
reform bill of 1882 In the following year he exchanged
the onerous duties of the Irish office for the secretary
ship of the colonies being then about the age
his eldest son. Lord Stanley, who now holds the Of
fee in the newly formed cabinet When it was propos
ed by the ministry to appropriate the surplus revenues
for the established church in ireland for the establish
ment of national school system, Mr.. Stanley differed
with his colleagues and finding himself in minority,
he and Sir James Graham Lord Ripon, and the Duke
of Richmond, until then identified with the wings sece
ded from the party, and ultimately formed union with
the conservatives, under sir Robert Peel.
In l841 Mr. (then become Lord Stanley accepted
office as colonial secretary in Sir Roberts second ad
mnistraton In 1874, during the lifetime of his father
he summoned by writ to the House of Lords as
Baron Stanley, where his wonderful debating power
was effectively employed in the service of his colleagues
1t was believed that there serious differences OF
opinion between Lord Stanley and Sir Robert Peel on
questions of foreign policy the chief management OF
which was then confded to the Earl of Aberdeen but
the split between the two great conservative statesmen
took place on the subject Of the repeal of the laws
Lord Stanley retiring from the cabinet and taking the
leadership Of the prOtectOnsts and the remnants OF the
tories There was no more bitter opponent of Lord
John Russell's wing ministry 846-52) than the bcld
and chivalrous Stanley; and on their resignation IN
February 1852 the Queen sent for the Earl of Derby
to form cabinet which he did by calling to his aid al
most the as he has now chosen. For the
most they had never held Office BEFORE and tho many of
then-Disraeli, Walpole Pakington, and Sugden-were
men of ability and power they wholly inexperienced
and were peculiarly untitled to cope with House of
Commons, ma Ority of which was known to be of de-
| cidedy free trade opinions
Finding that he was too weak in the House to be
able to carry the business of the country with advan
CaSe LORD DefDy QSSOVeQ IarllalenC ana Appealed 10
the people The result was, the return OF House still
decidedly opposed to protectionsm than its prede
cessor In December, 1852, the Derby cabinet resign
3D. after nine months tenure of Office under crcumstan
ces of peculiar difficulty and embarrassment. From
that date to the present overthrow of the Pamerston
administration Lord Derby in the Lords and Mr.. Dis
raeli in the Commons have led most bitter and
i promising opposition to her Majestys government On
every question of Importance; the Crmean war the
mutiny in India law REFORM in short, every ques
tion foreign dOmestic-Lord Derby brought to bear
all his vast powers orator his varied requirements
and admirable qualities debater, to defeat the gov
eminent.
AS statesman Lord Derby certainly ranks among
the first men Of the age-and as an accomplished schof
ar and as refined gentleman he is not surpassed by
any In private life he is much esteemed by those whom
he admits to his intimacy but his naughty exclusive
ism and ausere assertion of the privileges of his orde
render him far from popular At the death of the Duke
of Wellington, he was elected by a unanimous VOTE
Chancellor of the University of Oxford, which is
the most enved positions in the United Kingdom, an6
is only conferred the most eminent of the day