The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-22
Meph,s.ophele. Among Statesmen.

Mephistopheles Among Statesmen.
Whether Mephistopheles always lives.
whether there are more than one MephisO-
pheles. or whether Faust's fast friend has or
had any blood relationship with Dante's Devil
or Millions Satan are questions which we have
never heard or seen fairly and fully discussed.
The questions are, no doubt, important, and TO
many minds interesting; but we do not feel at
present that we have either time or space TO
answer them. Suffice it, therefore. to Ray that
Aephistopheles is wonderfully kind, genial,
sprightly, playful and natural creation, and
that, ii we are not privileged TO look on the
Individual himself we are not denied the
honor of looking from time to time on charso-
ters who sustain to him marvellously
striking resemblance.
On this side Of the Atlantic we have at least
one such character, and we owe him to our
foreign affairs but as he is rather small Me-
phistopheles we do not feel disposed to name
him. On the other side, however, we have
two undoubted specimens. We do not say
which is No. and which is No. Q; which is the
greater and which is the lesser which in his
day has done the greatest and which the least
mischief; but we may venture to say that the
one may be described az the heavy and the
other as the light Mephistopheles. We refer
to the hero of Ham and Dizzy the Jew, the
author of the coup d'6tal and the father Of the
British Reform bill of 1867.
The points of comparison between these two
persons are numerous and striking. Were it
not to do violence to the Mephistophelean
character, we might say that both have been
adventures and both have been eminently
successful. The one has raised himself to the
throne Of France and the other has placed
himself at the head Of the aristocracy OF Eng
land. Both were born with big ideas, and
each in his own way has sought to give them
practical shape. The one dreamed Of empire
where empire was possible; the other dreamed
of what was almost equal TO empire where
empire was impossible. Each has realized the
object of his ambition-the one sooner, the
other later In both cases patience, perse-
verance, watchfuluess, cunning, deceit have
been necessary; and in neither have these
qualities been wanting. The one, TO give
effect to bis purpose, landed on the coast of
France with tame eagle in the one hand and
a golden eagle in the other. The attempt was
unsuccessful; but even in Ham the purpose
lived. Tho other made his maiden speech
in the House of Commons amid derisive cheers
but the genius of the Jew was not to be so
easily extinguished. With an air Of naughty
defiance he exclaimed, al am not surprised at
the reception have met with. have be gun,
many times, several things; bu. have often
succeeded at last. shall sit down now, but
the time will come when you will hear me-"
Who will deny that the time has come! Ma
poleon has had for fifteen years the reputation
Of being one of the greatest monarchs OF his
age. Disraeli, IL not monarch, is al least the
| most illustrious subject OF the greatest mon
| archy in existence. How much France will
ultimately owe TO Napoleon, and how much
England will ultimately owe to Disrael, and
what will be the effect Of their example on the
world at large, are questions which II will be
| safe TO leave TO time to solve. Meanwhile. the
success of these men is fitting theme for the
philosopher and likely to command the atten-
ton OF future aspirants TO political fame. OF
both of them II must I've admitted that tenacity
OF purpose has been more conspicuous in their
career than bightoned consistency and lofty
moral purpose. Still, there is lesson in their
lives for those who can read 1t.