The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-17
THE "LOTHAIRv DISPUTE.


1r----'-'
To the Editor of the Cornell Era
Sr:-I have sent for publication elsewhere a letter
which have addressed to MIR. Disraeli, respecting
passage affecting my character in his "Lothair. T"
If / were in my own country, should not think 1t
stranSsr here. will with YOUR permission' address
a few words OF further explanation to the colleagues
and friends on whose good opinion and confidence
my usefulness and happiness in this country must
depend
Mr. Disraeli has been foiled, as such tactlcians
always will be foed in spite OF their most laborous
artnces, in any country where any vestige OF moral
force remains. he is angry, and he pours out his
anger on all who were in any way instrumental in
his defeat Probably 1t to give vent to his feel
ings as much as to raise the "No Popery" cry on
which he hopes to ride back into power, that he
wrote "Lotha1T."
good deal OF what he said about me is mere
abuse which deserves no notice But the sting OF
been "a social parasite" in my own country and that
of having schemes here, to facilitate which l am
represented as paying insdious attentions to Amer
The first imputation can hardly discuss with pa
tience Politically, stood with my friends in direct
opposition to the party OF the aristocracy Socially
my relation to that class would be more accurately
described ostracism than parastsm; at least If
did not lose old friends in the class, did not put
myself in the way Of making any new ones. A cry
has late gone forth that some OF the young Tory
nobility were turning Liberal; and as this afictng
taneous, it has been ascribed, both in prose and
verse, to my sinister influence. Upon this, it
the further charge Of practising. the arts of
a social parasite. But the foundation as
well as the superstructure is fiction l
can truly say that / never attempted to
proselytize any young man, nobeman or commoner,
at oxford or elsewhere The oxford Tories had an
organization, which countenanced, If the party
organs spoke the truth, by Mr.. Dsrae for the pur-
pose of enlisting young men in the party. But
always discountenanced any movement of the kind
on the Liberal side L always held 1t an unmauly
and unchivarous thing to entange young man in
party trammes, when he could not have had fair
opportunity of forming his opinions and deciding for
himself. always said and acted on the conviction
that 1t better for the Liberal cause itself that
o Gs s has 'on
its way through the barriers of caste ana privilege
to the heart of any young English nobeman on
general influences, not on my inttlgues, must rest
the blame.
If have any schemes in America, l believe it will
be allowed that they have been pretty well con-
cealed. My tenure of the Fellowship which con-
nected me with the University Of oxford, was, by
the rules of my college, at an end. Death had ter
minated my domestic duties The political contro-
versies in which had happened to be eDgaged-that
relating to the American conflict and that relating
The victory Of the Liberals in the general election
was assured. / could not have afforded seat in
Parliament II had desired desired IT, and did m not want
of work were the worse for wear, but still |
felt that l had work left in me- | determined
to carry into effect plan which L had formed
long before but the execution OF which had been
suspended by Academical and domestic duty, Of re-
visiting America; and was thinking Of settling at
Providence where / should have had some special
facilities for the study of New England history,
when President White offered me professorship In
position connected with object of special interest
to one who in political life had been peculiarly allied
with the working class. The place in which have
settled is scarcely one which a schemer would
select. / frankly avow my social preference
for American Equality over English Priv
lege and Putocracy; but l hope l have
never shown a want OF loyalty to my native land
/ did not hesitate when thought she was traduced
TO incur in her defense the anger of the American
public on whose favor my schemes, If had any
weuld be based. Any attentions which | paid tC
Americans visiting oxford were the natural return
for the hOspitality which had experienced here nc
generous or candid mind would have put any othel
construction on them.
trust this is the last occasion On which my lite
rary life at Ithaca and the quiet performance of my
duty to the University will be disturbed by any re
currence of the political controversies which have
so gladly left behind. Yours, faithfully,
June 3, 1870 GOODWIN SMITH,