New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-23
Mr.. DIcKENsS BlRnINGHAM SPEECH

What Mr. Dickens meant to say in defining his po-
ltical creed lately at Brmingh has been the sub
iect of much controversy. We present number of
various interpretations from the English and Amer-
can press The first of these is curious as being the
Judgment of Liberal paper published in the place
where Mr. Dickens said that "hls belief in the peo-
ple governing was. on the whole, nfnitesimaip
TIE BIRMISGHAM POST MR.. DICKENS.
You are bound by thousand local courteses not
delivered by Charles Dickens. It done by him in a
graceful spirit aud was no doubt gratefully received.
and the main force OF IL admirable IN Itself IL was
remarkable as showing his ambition 10 DO disciple Oh
CARLYLE in his worst phase Literary men VINO ar said
ingy In political foresight II the result OF progress 10 ths
day s to have the smallest faith IN the people goyerhg
Why this the rrst faith OF the savage King IhIs
was the doctrine Of Tie infancy 81 the governed wOTa
people able TO govern themselves ana take bnr IN
their selfgovernmenti lBirmingham Post
THE TIMES AND THE SATURDAY REVIEW vs. Mr.
DICKENS
The proceedings AT the Inauguration OF the coming SEES
sion OF the Midland Institute ended with the following
delyerance OF Mr.. Charles DckensS political creed
"My faith In the people gOyernings, on the whole IN
whole Ilmta6le" This sentence Is greatly exercising
the British commentator (who Is leuonl beth In the
in these two articles Of faith a recantaon OF the speak
er's lifelong convictions. declares that they are only
bosom friend, Charles Dickens. has turned Tory TIE
Saturday Lcriep, writing, this time with is gall amiably
OF Radcalsm, and the SLAYER Of hatteTy To the base,
common and popular" london News.
Az ORACLE or JANUS.
Mr. Dickens's words delivered from lips that never
either IN aim or oppression have so arranged
themselves na4 3ey ht nave PSe h In the %
pie governing infnitesima MY faith IN the people
governed is intabc" The opposite meanings may be
TORY Intsrprtiaion"M My faith In the people governing
A. e. in the masses exercising the functions Of
inent Is innnesima My faith In the people Ibeingl
governed Is lllimtable'
erning H. e. the persons who now goyern nnnitesinal
My faith nj the persons governed Is illlmable
News.
WHAT DID MR.. DICKENS MEANi
Yes but how do you draw the distinction between
Dickens TO include under the former term all per
sons in authOrity-the Sovereign, the Ministers, the
all "the powers that be-" tie rural constable
the parish beade II so. his nina must be slngnlaily
his encounters with those IN authority than the public
have been led to suppose Does he simply mean an ex'
preston OF mo confidence In Her MaJesys present nd
vsers That impossible for he expressly deprecated any
political intention. Does he mean-what the words would
ing class England which brushes down the rest Of
and whose msgoyeInment has forfeited his confidence
choose the governing people in this country.
Vanity Fair.
Mr. Dickens as a novelist IL worthy OF attention;
statesman, or even politician, his views OF less
unknown 10 fame We regret for his own sake that no
has only intniteslmal faith In republican govern
weight with thinking men ID any quarter OF the world
IN. y. Independent, Oct. IA.
lArER-MR TILroNs OTHER VIEW.
The only explanation possible to his words is that his
ilimable faith rested wholly upon the great body OF
hard working, unrehecng, and uneducated masses who
constitute the people; the moment that OF them
that is makers and administrators OF the aws-by
con Of their superior education and devotion 70 tho
science OF politics then his faith became at once nfntes
mal But very strangely some OF our own papers inter
preted hs words In totally different manner and as
cha ha,
OF the people for governing nnitesimal commenced
abusing him for his aposasy, and accused MN OF making
learns how absurdy misconstned By some OF his
N. Y. Independent, Oct. 81.
RANK ToRYIsM.
Rank Torysm and the proper political IMh OF man
ems vaguely hints in his address Altogether this address
will do no good. People see that Dickens Is man OF
sentimentnOt OF ideas and that much for what we love
him comes from his exquisite art, not from virtue
philadelphia Post.
EcCENTRfcITIEs OF GENIUS.
These men Of genius however, must have their eccen
that OF Gen Sherman who has just astounded body or
track Of the Pacific Road and making some other minor
prOvements that 10 WILL as he believes, flnll all
man and Dickens are equally behind the times when they
step out OF their own spheres Boston journal
WILL DICKENS E1PLAHi
The expression was something very " Dlske9slsh" In
expressing himself quite 50 ,Re an Ser6 So
he win deign TO inform q waiting world what he
actually did intend 70 say in language everybody can IN
dersand AS We said before the sentence was lugged
into his remarks II were and the connection nrnsnes
no clew TO tue meaning. Springfield Republican
Nm. DICKENS FREE-TRADER.
That anybody should misunderHtand ths 10 mean nat
Mr. Dickens has faith In popular government seems
strange enough particularly when IL Is taken with INC
context and when 10 II remembered that he was address
Ing working people. In fact Mr. Dickens hyowed nnse
Democrat In the broadcast terinsi beneyer without
limit In the common OF tho mass OF the people III
their ability TO help themseyes and ON the other hand
who has very little faith In the power OF govern
ments interfere bonencay the affairs OF the people
In short, Mr.. Dickens 10 Free-Trlder.
IN Y Evening Post.