New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-22
MR.. GOODWIN SMITHS LETTER.


The letter of Prof. Goodwin Smith replying
to Mr. Disraes anonymous assault upon his character
IN L0hair and published lately in THE TRIBUNE, has
created very decided sensation in London The papers
of June without exception have something 10 say OF H.
The News says that "this ealumny, more RIDICULOUS
than what Ia else most ridiculous In MI Disraens IAN
tstic story is not severely rebuked by its object
when he denounces 1t the SANDER OF coward. III
recalls the vtuperation Of Runnymede. Mr. Disraeh
has been engaged in many wordy conflicts with MI
Goodwin Smith The fact that he has betaken himself In
this solitary instance TO poisoned weapons shows con-
seriousness of having been foed and worsted with more
legitimate arms He calls Mr. Goodwin Smith parasite,
because he that character to be of all Others the
most foreign to the and odious TO the feelings OF
his adversary and thinks that the impuaton VIII gave
the greatest amount of pain He is probably mistaken
The folly of the accusation, in the truth OF which MT
Dsraei himself does not and never did, believe takes
the sting out of its malice. Coward Is WORD winch ~
not ordinarily applicable to Mr.. Dsrael. But he has
earned il in this case and wrthe and wrigge he may
he cannot escape the strong hand which Drands him
with it,"
The same paper on the following day, had the follow
ing:
Mr. Disrael has responded TO structures upon his po
cal conduct and character by alleging without
and indeed with the N knowing the untruth OF
what he said that his opponent was social parasite
Mr. Disraeli however, is little Of an Englshnan as
his Hghness the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, who is
country gentleman county magistrate and perhaps
not indeed IN Se gs when divide
the strongest and most scornfu nvecive against pot
life Thither the public cannot follow an assailant, not
having the knowledge which IL needf 10 enecn nnn s
others. an honorable enemy will not seek lead the
public. Mr.. Disrae would have been called to order
could not uttered in the society Of private gentle
men, without bringing upon himself rebuke and disgrace
When the distinction which he has for once forgotten
ceases to be understood, political discussion VIII DC
banished ~ the pothouse.
rse Tslsgraph on June used the following language
The quarrel between the Professor and the leader Of
the Conservative party is Of old standing. Years ago
Mr. Smith accused Mr. Dlsraei OF unscrupuousness and
I'm his lectures Ppm, Cromwell, and Pitt, he aimed
more than shaft of at the same weabused
statesman. Mr.. Disrae retOrted by calling Mr. smith
'that wild man." Selling the occasion OF Mr.. Dsraes
accession to Premiership the Professor pubisheda
letter in which the statesmans early hgnt rom Edi
conversion to the Conservative principle OF household
%hich the Sf Political Writing the age
parallels Returning to the charge Mr. Goodwin Smith,
In the second edition OF his Lectures said that the days
of Bongbroke not the last time in which states
men Of easy virtue" and ''nnscrupuous ecelesastcs"
Finally in public speech, referring to the conduct Of
Mr. Disrae he said that the Irish Church bad as
than fanatcism" To that long string of insults Mr. Dis
rae replied by sketchng, in his "Lothair" an oxford
parasite" among men.
On the eth inst the same paper, continuing Its remarks
in the vein OF rdice thus sketches the two gen
temen who the "favorte aversions Of each other
1t would interesting to know Mr.. Disraels feelings
at receiving what is, less, indirect "chal
lenge OF the good old kind He is now what we may at
thunderandlig little letter, his mind must travel
back again, halfbumOrousy, half-sady TO his own hot
Wild and furious YOUTH when his pen sputtered similar
fire the least provocatOn collection could be made
of Juvenile epistIes signed b. Dsrae denouneing sew
eral persons below contempt-as guilty OF nearly all
the crimes and vices that disgrace humanity. MT DIS
rael would write such letters now than ne
would stand his head" during an election harangue
but he must smile to the youthful fury OF his own
style turned against himself He too, appealed TO the du
clio again and again. in revenge for the satire OF political
foes He too called men towards" because they would
not fight him The difference is, that when MI Dlsraen
induged In the eabOrate-and indeed dist0rted-inyec
tive OF his early contests he very young man. lad
not even entered Parliament and strainng every
nerve to make himself known, and TO jump from
obscurity into noOrety IL not fame There Is no such
excuse for Mr.. Goodwin Smith. He Is not young man.
He has filed eminent position here. He Is not only
able but his ability is widely recognized He is not an
isolated adyenturer but has during his career won
Glove and honor and troops Of friends. That on any
proyocaton he should write mad schOOboy letter TO
gentleman of Mr. Disraes age and position is something
40 astounding, that we should almost hope to see his
epstle proved a forgery. Why not allow his English
friends to remember him for his political AFFINITY, his
manliness, his honesty. the purity OF his style
The Times that Mr. Smith has shown his ac-
customed unwisdom by appropriating to himself one of
the least natterng characters sketched In Lothian
and adds: Public curiosity would be much relieved II
the prototypes OF Mr. Phebus and MI Pinto would also
reveal themselves"