New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-25
THE EARL OF DERBY.

has passed from earth the list year OF his age Lrd
Derby. as q man Of positive individuality and decided
win, cannot have left the intellectual arena OF Engsh
politics without bequeathng marked influence Tor good
i'll to the arstocracy with whom he laOored ana sym
pathized II TO be regretted the effect of his life
and work has been 10 dogmatize and make obstinate
the opposition which the English peerage have always
made to the popular will and that in his last effort
against the success OF bill for dsesabshng the En-
gish Church, he appeared as an implacaDie zoe 10
Liberal measures for the reform OF British oppression In
Ireland. Lord Derby scholar and author OF aOiy
as well statesman Of versatility ana energy, ana
presents in politics that unsympathec combination OF
accomplishments Of which Disrae is not the only other
noted example Derby not less than Disrae govern
ment was science Of forces In which preudices were 10
be weighed game Of chess in which the values OF the
pieces were arbitrary and never varying or PROP
lem Of conservatism in which the morals were
never to be sorupulousy counted when opposed 10
force Like Dsraeli, the eXeader OF the Tory Peers
valued literature probably he valued politics. lwlth
the same stoca appreciation Of power and the same ab
sence Of saving belief in the progressive genius ana SYM
patty OF the time Lord Derby was one OF class WHO
believed in arstOcracy Of mind and body ana posses
sion and who, if willing TO admit that the WORLDS I'm
provement tends the gradual wearing away ana re-
shaping OF the most absolute societies. imagine that such
IAN end is hardly be attained in less than Darwah
age for the changing OF species Allowing for such ex'
aggeraton may form this side OF the water as
respects the berality OF the aristocratc cDaracer-
allowing aIso, for the social qualities and bouhtes OF
many Of the English mobiles, and for Whatever part Oh
their conservatism may be useful to the existing false
condition Of the English constitutional fabric the world
viii still fail to see in the great Tory representative an
actual benefactor of his nation any other than man
Of great merit the side Of negaon LORD Derby was
fond Of horses literature society and the languages ana
beyond all this passed his life, sometimes as common
sailor sometimes the mate, and again as captain OF
pilot upon the ocean Of debate and In the storms OF
State His version OF the Had. published In 1865, when
he was &C years old remarkable and even after 70
many attempts 10 do Justice the great blind democrat
the translation Of Homer by good Greek and so de-
cided an aristOcrat as Derby was refresh
ment 70 scholars 1t may be said that the
Earl was born the business OF nobility ana that IN
Parliament and Government he was Conservative oy
nature not without good bearings but never committed
against his caste. His on the question OF West
India Emancipation was honorable TO his head and heart
and his measure for national education in Ireland and
his conduct at times in relation to reform, though well
come In their day will give the impression that lie
was a truly initiative and progressive statesman
Edward Godfrey Stanley fourteenth Earl OF Derby,
was born at Knowsley Park Lancashire the 10Th Of
March, 1892 and received his education at Elton and
Christ Church, distinguishing himself at college by his
classical attanments and gaining In 1919 the prize for
Latin verse the subject being Syracuse Immediately
after attaining his majority be entered political lie,
having been returned to Parliament for stoekbrdge In
1890 1t not however till four years after bis hrst
election to the House Of Commons that he ventured to
address that body but his maiden speech stamped him
at once ms an orator Of ordinary powers. its effort
eciting a warm eulogium from that fine scholar, SIR
James Macintosh then one OF the most distinguished
members OF the House The second speech, dehYercd In
opposition measure Of the celebrated economist,
Joseph Hume, proposing certain reforms In the irish
Church Establishment Twas equally fectous, and follow
raufl ke
lshed his fame as one Of the most ccomplshed and
effective debaters in the British legislature His great
powers and the brilliant he had achieved as par
liamentary orator. combined with his high rank. soon
him the post OF Under Secretary for the Colonies In
the Administration Lord Goderich. This position did
not afford scope for the exercise OF ms exraOrd
nary talents; but he turned 1t 10 good account In IA
miiarlzng himself with the routine work Of
the Executive Government In 1850 no became
Chief Secretary for Ireland, and 1t is from
this period that his fame statesman dates Ireland
was at that time in a highly excited state. Only the
year before the great Of Catholic emancipation
had been carried and Daniel oConnel then In the
zenith Of his fame, had just taken his in the House
Of Commons flushed with victory, and bent upon accom-
pshng II possible, repeal of the Union The Sec
rotary found himself confronted by difficulties OF the
most threatening characters but according 10 the prnci
pies and policy which then prevailed In the government
OF Ireland he proved fully equal TO the occasion He
opposed OCOuncIl5 repeal agitation win III
his might the encounters between him and tho
great Irish orator the House OF Commons night after
night being often OF exhaustng character; bu:
while he thus showed himself not afraid to offend
the national party, Of which his distinguished adyer
sary was the idolzod leader, he at the same time,
brought forward and succeeded I'm carrying several
measures calculated TO give effect TO the Catholic Eman-
cipation scheme, while. at the risk Of giving mortal
oense to the Protestant part of the population Of Ire
land no mot "A
lodges In the terrible struggle which preceded the
ing OF the first Parliamentary Reform bill, Mr.. Stanley
took an active prominent part his genius for debate
shining forth with dazzling brlliancy In those desperate
encounters between the advocates Of the measure and
its opponents which marked the progress Of the bill
Let IL DO recorded his honor that In this battle
although a member Of one OF the Oldest patrician
families Of England the heir not only Of great name,
but Of intensely arisOcrao traditions, he fought tho
side Of popular liberty. But he did not allow the excite
men OF the Reform movement to distract his attention
from his proper work Secretary for Ireland and he
signalzed his administration by two bold measures-one
for National Education in that part Of the Kingdom and
another relative 70 the Irish Church Temperatures which
resulted in ten bsnoprics being abolished The grievance
OF Church rates was also removed, and graduated
tax upon benehces and bshoprlcs substituted.
But another work was before Mr. Stanley, the accom-
plishment OF which must be regarded constituting by
far his best title 10 enduring fame In 1888 he became
Secretary OF state for the Colonies as the successor OF
Lord Gleneg The question OF the emancipation of the
slaves in the British West Indies then agitatDg the
public mind and exercising the national conscience 10
extraordinary degree The antisavery labors OF men
like Buxton and Carkson, and the captivating and eff
fecve eloquence of wlberiorce had prepared the way
for performance of great act of justice on the part
OF England toward the cruelty oppressed children OF
Africa in her colonial possessions; and 1t fell
TO Mr.. staneys lot as Colonial Minister TO
ipt i'm q
for the abolition OF negro slavery In
the British dominions The measure encountered, OF
courses violent opposition from the West India INTEREST,"
but entering with charaeerisc ardOr upon It's advocacy