The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-28

in mood of deep impression at the APP
parently unassailable supremacy of To-
ryism in England, he came to the reso-
luton of withdrawing from political life.
From this course, however, he was dis
suaded by the strenuous appeals of his
friends, particularly of Tom Moore.
Taking a fresh start, with courage rein
vigorated, he set steadily at work to
fight out Toryism on that line. Against
the cruel represslve measures of the gov
eminent, against Catholic disabilities,
against religious disabilities Of all sorts,
against the slave trade, against the mon
strous anomalies of the English electori-
al system, hestrove year after year, with
persevering work, by speeches, by books,
by votes. In 1919 he first introduced
his celebrated resolution for representa-
tive reform; and that resolution, sneer-
ed at, ridiculed, voted down, he brought
to the house every year thereafter until
1881, when the movement, which he
had SO long promoted and of which he
seemed the representation in the lower
house, eliminated in the great Reform
Bill.
The attempt has been made, partly by
ignorant persons and partly by jealous
ones, to rob Earl Russell OF the honor of
his peculiar association with that great
act of political redemption-tllat act
which, as has been remarked by great
English writer, Twill be to thoughtful
students thousand years hence what
Magma Charta is to u.s. For example,
Mr.. Roebuck, who has written histo-
ry on the Reform Bill, and who hates
Lord Russell, said few weeks ago, in a
speech at Sheffield, that it was preposte-
rous for Earl Russell to claim conspicu
Gus credit in connection with that cele-
brated measure, and applied to him the
fable of the fly on the wheel. To salts
fy ones self, however, as to the relation
Of Earl Russell to the first Reform Bill,
it is only necessary to turn to the parli-
mentary debates and to the newspapers
of the period, and to observe how con-
spicuous Lord John Russell Was an OBJ
ject both of attack and Of eulogy; how,
for instance, the bill was assailed by
Sir Charles Wetherell as "Russells
Purge" in ludricous allusion to Col.
Pride's famous purgatorial treatment OF
the House in CrOlnWell's time; and how,
for instance, the bill was eXtolled in one
of the splendid speeches of the young
Macauly as a measure which would give
Traditional luster to noble name in
separately connected during two centu-
ries with the dearest liberties Of the Eli
glish people,,
With the triumph of the Reform Bill
Lord John undoubtedly reached the
summit of his renoWn; and it cannot be
denied that within a very few years
from that event he succeeded in greatly
disappointing the expectations that had
been formed concerning him. The tie.
cay of his popularity was due to several
causes.-LOrd Palmerston, then under
valued, steadily gained upon him in the
public estimation, overlook him passed
him, and during the past twenty years
not only threw Lord Russell into
the shade, but induced the world
to overrate himself as decidedly as
it previously moderated him. The
death of Lord Palmerston was the
signal for the retributive process
to begin of restoring these men to their
true positions; henceforward every year
that passes will reveal more and more
clearly that Lord Palmerston was an ut
terly commonplace character merely
clever public functionary, jovial, au-
dacious, and me-serving-Whlle the
same lapse of years will more and more
fix the fame OF Earl Russell as one OF
the high, pure, and abiding lights in the
armament of English craftsmanship.
I i
the Palmerstonian epoch was reproach
not to Earl Russell, but to the epoch.
1t was but one indication of the decline
of earnestness in the time.
! do not mean to convey the impress
sion that Earl Russell is q statesman
without imperfections. 1t is generally
asserted here that he has lamentably
failed in two very important depart
ments of modern statesmanship-in di-
plomacy and in finance; and that he lacks
the physical and emotional qualities
needful to great leader of men. He
is himselfa little man, thin, grasping,
tand cold. Without the heart-poWer,
| the merry, blunt, and even affectionate
good fellowship of Palmerston; he in-
herits the Russell attribute Of iciness: it
he tries to thank you, he gives you a
chill; his attempts at being gracious set
your teeth chattering. He is the sort
of person whom the literary critic of the
Times lately described as "peripatetic
refrigerator Beside, though his life
has been on the whole grand testimo-
ny to lofty and liberal principle; though
in the depths of his being he loves right
better than applause and the rewards OF
office; he has shown, lat critical junctures
an intirmity of moral courage and dis
position to catch momentary huzza by