The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-14
-FOUR BRITISH STATESMEN
ny RICHARD GRANT WHITE.

By RICHARD GRANT WHITE
Tho recent change which has taken place in the
Administration Of tho British Government lends
an interest to Mr.. Hutton's book upon the leading
politicians Of Great Britain in addition to that
which its insight and its impressive and pictur-
osquo style wond give 1t ut any tme.s It is highly
probable that Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone did
not go out Hnd tho Earl OF Derby and Mr.. Disrae
come in in order to enhance tho value Of Mr.. Hut
toms labors; but, nevertheless this they did, and
they are not the only men who have unknowingly
done good deed while they were engaged upon
sono other of less certain merit. Mr.. Hutton
passes in review seventeen British statesmen and
he says, with reason, that his book does not pre-
tond to exhaust, or half exhaust, the number of
statesmt fairly entitled to be called leading poll
ticians Of the day. Yet il is worthy of note That
OF tho seventeen whose personal and politicaI
traits he sketches with such firm, delicate. know
ing touches of his pon-penci, almost ALL certainly
tGNytGcG, arc well known by reputation in this
country. Coud fourteen of our leading politicians.
Senators or Members OF the Houae, be named who
have Eur pa4n regulations? Could soven2 That
they could not mag be attributed 66y some persnna
to the etoid Of all but few unusually
intelligent and impressible minds in Europe to
everything i'll this country which does not affect
trade and commerce. There is no doubt that thi !,
most ungracions and petty-petty because, plain
~ enough, partly affected indifference is at the
bottom Of not q little Of the ignorance CONSTANTS
Exhibited in regard to the United States by Euro
peans who are well inform d enough On all other
suplects: put ooua we ourselves point out seven
teen polhie;ans Of suoh commanding influence in
Congress that their names would be recognized
by our own publ at once as those OF leaders of
political opinion? 1t would be very dificult to do
so. Becanse this is the case it does not follow
that IN the grade of civilization in the science OF
government, or in the diffusion Of culture, we are
behind any people OF Europe. Our lack in this
respect may be more than made up by advantages
nsner an .9gatlWtys more eendurinE and more
al at
is significant.
=. Rarl Russell, according to Mr.. Hutton, las lost
the posltion which he held 40 firmly many years
ago, because the middle classes have aeen that he
failed conspicuously, first in finance next and
worst in party loyalty, and last as diplomatist.
The ideal OF the middle class itself has Changed
tells US in the following passage which, like John
Leech's best drawings, has an exquisite SAVIOR OF
carlcature without the least perceptible touch OF
exaggeration: -
ing Politicians. By r. H. Hutton London: Longmans.
'Then his unquestionable searnestpese' which
was not the less popular quality to the former
generation that it combined Whig nobleman's
!nmiperiousness with Just favor Of the favorite
conviction, which excited their confidapce' and
the touch Of priggishness in its expression which
made 1t o familiar feature without annoying their
taste-these were qualities which we're much more
IN IN popnar request during the era OF Lord John
Russens ascendancy than they have been since
L9rd 46o rnimSisI9n ias 70 passed him in the race"
Ihe mlddle-class British mind is not novu ss;,,
esrnest," and returning to it's old love for 20 boz
and ale, 1t took up with jaunty jeery Palmerston'
on mnG United ponnommIo and arrogance, the incest
principle, and who adminstered the eoyer omen.
on the vague general plan Of making the beat Of
everything; Keeping all the while sharp lookout
aTr n1 every opportunity to maintain British interest
ana hon9r, especially the former. In MIR. Hrt-
toms Judgment, OF all British statesmen Of h;s
generahon, Lord Russell has shown the most
dom dorp apd 30 1Epanod eympsthy with popular free.
Earl and MIR. Gladstone in this particnIar' Tho
latter "is more tender and humane. has far
nHrror OF popular snsring and therefore
mr.. Hutton adds the subtle remark. oharacter.
ls.ac OF h,s mind, and Of kind which often ap.
wb,b III Inc m columns OF the London Spectator"
with Irn freedou 1o ~ EN- SEtornLord Russels sympathy
tm; Mn iieEaom, bko all true sympathy has somo-
thinE little sharp aud stern about itCa little of
u Sno oin inrltah careessness whether it be happy
suh;nii oi ;uhihtn,ppy lreedom This is mood OF mind
%n,ch nc the present age is almost learning to ia-
hnfo. 1a But Lord Russell deserts his allies as he
uu t mhen no refused to stand up and take his
ofS tbo Cr q, Inc p9nishmen. about the blunders in
dld "hon he exposed to the House of Comnons q
Pers1Hai quarrel, IN 1851, between the Oneen and
naIoro rato about the internal affairs OF the
sIoSalivn ~ riston d,,is himself is praised for his
,;nIy niy 9 I'D TINS respect. A British Administra-
nmra oUn apparently has much moro soliaarite than
brnth, seems tn be for the time sort Of sworn
ed TO hnaU' a., win Us man IL OF course expect
a oa ~ heep laith, unless he wishes to be marked
as as hs eia sheep, aud to hear a{e Responsibility
Ut @ MS o%i, acts; but We dou't exlt him to stand
II. becaua a ,aa9 ~ pnnehmen. with A, and O., mere
Wan Wnicn ne earnestly urged them not to commit
YET, IN SPITE "a Esll Russell's deaoiencies our
aarnoI aasmol regards him as having Enthusiastically
.su moro fr" thts generation than any living
.t ssaticsman. Ho has dJno this by his supreme de.
Touoa @ 70 the princ s OF reIi ii ,us stoIeraton by
hx hs rrtlstanca to sacerdotal tyranny and
ey ms Keeping Great Brit ain true 70 ths ca,se or
freedom freedom on both sides of the Atlantic even in a
tu;ilr, ;, hc'pi 81 way in Denmark and Polapd-and.
t6's VIC hnt add, in America (which IL shey,a I
claim ~ Tn'rea no little courage But his chief
% Gonsti,nt; i" tG;ratnie 's tnat "he has carried tho
crisis, and rendered it as dear TO- "a L. VIC nnno
a.oiui -, The English middle. .class This snnnSs
FnryI i' D p"t what docs it mean In other words
iv chan; o.' CHI ny ins rune ntal in complo,o
cd thc R;;1 I1r,aih oi ,se usages which are call
anna th", ish m Constitution, and in substituting
hoiesn ,at az arc acceptable to, for some that wore
has ha an' British middle.class. After MI tha :
nron ,In miiii''n, from Delome to Mr. b eeh,t,
Constitmi; It is nndenable that the British
Ior the 'ilnr being. When n bndv bos H. ,"s o
=; DIE bs hts n inchisr OF redis, ribntino an.t .
~ M Malmahoht, AMI even Of Changing Tho az
discnyer Ir,wn ny simple vote it Ia diff rult tn
body is srnosa - 'nr invisible entity by which that
caiI1d ,rr rr"nrd to be controlled, and which il.
t;nma az u,n s'liu,on. And when all these nues.
hevnnd III ~ any others may be decided, and pls crd
bv tbn v,, ,es'h"hl"l power OF the highest conrt.
sents n smo - nhElDrity ut body. which rapi o.
ers' tho Ia rror ooniinn. lv a.nsnaaa1 a'u .nApaS
{nr;i a., ~ - ne of the brutal rulo of Tho nv o
IN tba ~ i INC Jared States-wh,ro ro even unanimi,y
either in na,inn "0hy cannot make that law
.peca! per mi,tcd hy two Cona,;rfinm, n1 u.s.
roH exhibition OF Br,iah iennranoo snI ,s.o' =,