The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-12
ENGLAND.
FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.
The Social Side Of English Politics.
i

LONDON, Nov %, 1868.
The topic OF the day Is the elevation OF Mrs. Disrael
TO the peerage with the title Of viscountess OF
Bcaconsheld. The HERALD has always held that In
spite Of his party trammes, Mr.. Disrael Is the
ablest politician In England and even his bitterest
opponents now confess that they have secretly enter
tanned the same opinion. Friends and enemies all
join in general chorus OF congratulation upon the
tact and dnesse by which Mr.. Disraen has secured
the prize OF mis- ambition without Withdrawing from
active politics. by shutting himself up In the House
OF Lords. 1t has been long expected that at the
conclusion OF the present elections Mr.. Disraei
would step from the Premiership into the peerage,
and no one would have been disposed to deny that
he had amply earned the right to such an honor IN
fact his opponents rather congratulated themselves
upon the fact that they would longer have TO
conend with the able conservative leader. Some of
has own party too, would have been glad OF his re.
trcment from motives OF personal jealousy, although
the great majority would not have known where 10
look for another commander. But Mr. Disrae has
pleased all his friends and utterly confounded his
tagonists. He does not refuse the c0ronet he SIM
ply hands it over 10 his wife TO wear for him. lie
does not withdraw with his honors TO the House OF
Lords; he stays TO fight In the Commons and Keeps
his title at home for social and domestic uses.
You are. OF course aware that this act has most
flistrious precedent. The wife OF Mr.. Pitt became
sent accept the rank Of Earl. But everybody had
forgotten tits precedent until Mr.. Disrae practically
revived II. The friends OF Mr. Gladstone now enthu
sasticaly declare that he viii follow Disrae's ex
ample when the time comes for him to be raised to
she peerage / am afraid that this happy time IS
much more distant than Gadstone's friends sup
pose. The liberal majority In the new Parliament
will be about ITO. At first sight this Is enormous but
you must remember that in The last Parliament the
liberals had nominal majority OF eighty and were
sestan nH Hr pIsrae IN ocs do not AG ple
dict similar result in this Parliament,
because know how anxious the liberals are to OBJ
tain oce but still feel that Mr. Disraeli has many
more cards 10 play before he gives up the game and
welcomes Gladstone as Premier one or these-the
substitution VI some liberal nobleman In the Pre-
miership-I have already pointed out, and Others
sill be mentioned In good time. Personally, how
wee any amount OF good fortune attend Mr.. Glad.
stone. The families Of the two leaders very in
Innate, and Mrs. Gladstone was one OF the FIRST TO
send her sincere compliments 10 the Niscountess OF
Besconsned. During The season the Premier and
the leader Of the opposition are TO be seen at each
others receptions, and nothing could he more cor
dial than their private intercourse nor more I'M
ninchng than their pubic animosities
The social side OF politics would be completely
bright in England n 1t were not for the personal
piques and prejudices OF her Majesty the Queen
M->--years ago. when she nrst assumed the crown,
the queen confessed to Lord Melbourne that she
''hated the tories" 10y which she meant that che
hated the tory statesmen with whom she was brought
into official contact. She confessed this fault.
and a most griey0us fault In a sovereign IL I'M
doubiedy was. Years have passed, times and par
ties and men have changed anu now the queen
"hates' the liberals precisely the same way. That
Ia 70 say the principal liberal leaders are personally
6isagreeaele 70 her. She cannot endure Lord John
the other hand, she Is deeply attached 10
Lord Derby, and has no warmer and closer
friendship than that which she entertains Tor Mr..
psraell The social circle OF royalty IN therefore
broken Ia two The Court ought TO be neutral
ground, where great politicians OF all parties can
meet and either reconcile mitigate their difrer-
ences The Court OF 81. James, on the contrary, IL
aud they venture within the charmed circle trem-
bin9y and aIrightedly The Queen, they say, 10 with
tns tories Mr.. DisraelL IA his sensible way, has
lament. The public repeated the same statement
when they saw half dozen persons OF the blood
royal come down 10 Parliament TO listen 10 long
speeches against the Irish Church Resolutions VI MIR.
Gladstone.
Now this fact suggests two serious considerations
IN tue first place, the Queen Is materially impairng
her legitimate influence by taking sides In party
poitcs Liberal politicans believing that tue tories
have the Queen completely under the thumb are
constantly starting runors peJudical 10 her credit.
one Of these Is that which accuses ner or resolving
10 call some liberal nobeman mot Earl Russelll 10
the Premiership In case the present government be
voted out OF once. Everybody agrees that although
tins might be Ene partisan strategy on the part OF
Dlsraeli Il would be an outrageous act on the part
oil the queen for the whole country has accepted
Gladstone as the next Premier Another ruinor Is
mat the queen is about to VI conserve
tive peers to tie rejection or the Irish
Church btu ny the House OF Lords In
case The Liberal Premier should insist upon
Grating new peers TO carry the bill This
Ininor IA semi officially denied to-day Another
port u ~ the erect that the Queen will refuse TO
vpen The reformed Parliament ia person. although
fuen marx Of royal acQuiescence 10 the enlarge.
nent " the constituency and IN the verdict passed
~ we people upon the Irish Church question would
=. hVs polite, and Is, In fact, required by etiquette
sho the exlgences VI the crisis The liberal organ
sh' L..tV.uph, comes out with leader, In conse-
gusnce ~ tns ruinor, almost demanding that the
tu9cs snAil 90 hef duty IA this matter. Do 10 she
VIII hm certain but the prevalent impression Is
~ hurtfDl. - -
IN the second naee Il ia evident that, although the
queen - VIII the tories the majority OF her sub
Jccu are not The present eleetjons show tha the
liberal party expresses me genuine sentiment Of the
,oahtIy upon tne IInn Chnrefrquestion. The Roman
tbe dssenters and many OF the chorchmen OF Eng
lana unite 10 condemning that "sen churchill M
lreans which Disrae once 80 eloquentiy enounced
Jhere can be no doubt of their views and unfor-
tnnaiey these views directly opposed 10 those az
ihe queen. Her Majesty must, consequently give
Nay Dnt Ia struggling to the last and Ia yiei1ing
Win had grace sue Injuries her reputation and