Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-02-16
THE EARL-oF oHArHAM.

William Pitt, the political rival and oppo-
nent of Sir Robert Walpole, was born IN
l70S, aud was educated at Oxford. He en-
tered Parliament In 1913, and won an envia-
bic reputation as stern opponent to uneon-
stitutional measures He had bitter po-
litical warfare with Walpole, but on The
oYerthroWof that minister he was excluded
from the Newcastle Cabinet by the personal
dislike of the king to the rising, popular
statesman. In I746 he was appointed to a
subordinate position in ireland, where he
added to his reputation. Inl75s he attacked
certain measures Of the ministry, and was
dismissed by the King. But such was the
popular Indignation ut this act, that he was
restored with still higher honors He at
once assumed the, management of the war
aud Of home affairs, and under hisieBeTgetie
administration the nation was transported
with Joy by series Of victories by sea and
land in every part of the world Canada
was conquered, the West India Islands sub
iugated, the naval power of France was bro
ken by a succession Of splendid victories,
and the power of England was advanced on
the continent of Europe.
When George the Second died, no man
in England occupied a higher position than
Chatham. He was the idol Of the people,
ald was known by the name Of the Great
Commoner
On the accession of George the Third ne
resigned In consequence Of the refusal Of the
ministry to engage IN war with Spain, in an
ticipation Of the junction of that country
with France. The war was continued. how
ever, until 1868, when peace was proclaimed
Pitt maintained his popularity until he ac-
cepted the title of Earl of Chatham. when
his influence declined. He assumed power
for brief period in 1868, when he resigned
He opposed the efforts Of the ministry to tax
the Colonies, and took the part Of the Anle-
ricans his last speech having been uttered
against it, He died in IT'S He was an
orator Of surprising eloquence, and a states
man of unblemished integrity. He extended
the power and possessions of England, aud
if the American colonies were lost to the
Empire it was. in consequence of the adop-
ton of a policy against which he protested to
the last
William Pitt, the son Of the Earl of Chat
ham. was born in 1859. He manifested a
preeocious genius, and was trained from
childhood by his father. t5 be a politician
Two years after his father death he entered
Parliament, when only twenty y-one years Of
age, and a few months after made speech
III lGVUEs u ICiDIlla di1lCLl UStdAl1 DGU nm
the foremost man of his time. He was the
only. man in the House Of Commous who
yentured to compete with Burke, Fox,
Sheridan, and the great orators OF the Wing
party. Party. Partly from this cause, he
was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer,
under the Shelborne administration, when
only twenty three years of age. When Lord
Shelborne resignd the House offered him
the Premiership, but he prudently declined.
He remained in opposition until 1888, when
he resummed office a, Chancellor of the Ex-
eheauer and First Lord Of the Treasury.
No minister ever encountered greater diff
culties He had formidable opposition
in Parliament, but ne finally overcame it,
and a dissolution of Parliament placed him.
at the age of twenty FIVE years, in the FIRST
place ia the British Empire. He held this
position fos period Of twenty years, when
he resigned In 1901, on account of the king S
unalterable opposition to Catholic emanci-
patton. In 1903, he was recalled to power
in consequence of the renewal of the war
against France He died in 1906, his
naughty spirit broken by the military sue
cesses OF Napoleon.
Pitt is described By Macaulay as the grea-
test master of Par iamentary Gvernment
that ever lived, being superior to Walpole,
his father, the Ear of Chatham, or Peel
and Canning; to this fact may be chiefly at
tributed his extraordinary retention of pow
er for so long q time. AS statesman, his
ability scarcely reaches his Parliamentary
and oratoricaI fame He opposed the French
revolution and undertook to fight the battle
Of legitimacy and the divine right of kings.
His policy in this respect, has been reversed
BY the recognition cf the second empire of
Napoleon the Third He added enormously
to the National debt of England, and was
unsuccessful in most of his military plans,
which were baffied by the mastery genius
of Napoleon. His personal character, how
ever, was above suspicion and the man who
dispensed hundreds of millions Of pounds
died poor. Pitt was unable to discriminate
between the excesses and benefits of the
French revolution, aud was crushed by it,
his great enemy, Napoleon Bonaparte, only
falling when he proved untrue to the primer
pies Of which he was 80 long a representa-
five