The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-06
JOHN STUART MILL.
THE FOREMOST OF THE ENGLISH
THOUGHT-LEADERS OF THE DAY.
Personal and Home Ltfe-Parltamen-
tary Career-Views on Land Reform,
Representative Reform, Woman Suf-
frage, Irish Rights and American
Questions.
A London correspondent of the New Yor
World writes:

1S06, was educated privately, aud early in life
entered as clerk 10 the India Office, where,
In 1856, he was raised to the position OF ex-
aminer of Indian correspondence, formerly
s-rvice In 1858, when 1t wps transferred to
the government, ha ing declined seat at the
In6i IN board offered him by the present Earl
OF Derby. then Lord Stanley. He was mar
ried In 1851 to Harriet, daughter OF Thom-
as Hardy, Esq.,. of Brlksgate: That
all who have read his declaration to her
memory of the "Essay on Liberty" No one
who has ever read those lines to the ''lriend
and wife" can ever forget the touching ten
Heraess with which he refers to her who
'prompted aud Inspired all that was pest in
his writings" or can for one moment doubt
his devotion or her influence. The following
Is the concluding sentence of his tribute to
her worth: "Were but capable of interpret
ing to the world one-half the great thoughts
AID noble feelings which are buried in her
grave. should be the medium of greater
beceht to 1t than Is ever likely to arise from
anything that can write unprompted and
unassistt by her all but unrlvalled wisdom"
This is doubtless the secret of bis devotion to
the cause of woman's rights, Of which he Is
undoubtedly the greatest champion. In every
phase of
PRIVATE LIFE
he is. most retirlng-almost shy. For many
gears he has lived In the quietnde, not to say
eoli,ude, of Blackheath, In one of those pleas
ant, unpretendlng, suburban villas generally
occupied by quiet but well-to-do tradesmen.
That he loved the fresh breezes and solitude OF
this wide heath may be Inferred from bis zeal
to preserve these open spaces around London
for The pleasurable enjoyment OF its teemlng
population. He has also passed large por.
lion of each year at Avgnon, In the south of
France. There can be little doubt but that ne
felt the calls upon his time greater than ne
cared to give, not for correspondence only,
but personal applications, some OF which
were, without question, inconsiderable, not
to say OF q questionable kind. For idlers
have no conscience. As correspondent
he is most prompt, as all can testify VINO have
had the honor and pleasure OF correspondence
with him. This quiet home on the heath he
has now given up, more, We suspect, for the
sake of greater Quietude than for any other
reason. His health, not at the best very
robust, is not good, and he Is probably de-
slrpus to complete some still unfinished work,
ort0-fulhl some plan Of his own other than
1t must be selt-evident, even to the most
tbsughtless, that the solitude of the study
alone could possibly produce such
WIDE RANGE OF WORKS
as those Issued from his pen. A list of those
works would very adequately convey any
idea of the subjects which have engaged his
profound att ention. They cover every phase
of the wide field of metaphysical, moral and
political philosophy. He Is now sixty.si4'
years Of age, and tue autumn tints OF lie De-
gin to tell on him. He is about the medium
and slightly limps when walking. he Is very
bald, but his face is the most placid and &c.
rene 1t is possible to conceive: The eternal
repose OF that face is rather indicative of the
calmness of his Judgment than of the great
thoughts that stir his mind. Ulterance these
thoughts will have, but the medium is the pen.
His refusal, as rule, to speak at any public
meeting Is due 10 the fact, so It Is alleged,
that he always carefully prepares and writes
his speeches, aud then he has to learn them
by heart-a double duly-the latter to him
the heaviest task.
IN CONVERSATION
he Is somewhat reticent, never talks for talks
sake, but he is earnest, direct and pleasing, and
never misses his mark. A beaming eye and
general laugh will oft times enliren the con-
versation, but he never condescends to the
wit. In the circles where ne visits ne is mucn
beloved. He Is ever found assoctaling with
the most advanced thinkers, and the leading
political and social reformers for all those pur-
poses In support of which he has 80 long writ
ten. He is indeed the worthy son OF noble
father, and should England ever reform her
House of Peers, so as 10 admit within Its pale
her greatest thinkers, Mr. John Stuart Mill
would By acclamation be accorded the first
place on the list OF claimants, and no otner
man would be bold enough to dispute his
rEht.
Mr.. MIL made his name long before he
entered Parliament In July, 1866. Many even
of his best friends thought and even still
think, his candldalure mistake. From the
moment he entered the House he became
power! His speech on the reform bill was
constantly quoted all over the country, and
some of its home tbrusts stung his opponents
bill completely altered the nature OF the
measure, cutting down the compensation by
one-halt, for which service to the public he in
CURED the deep hate of the Londoners and
agricultnrallsts He raised the subject oil
woman's right to the franchise to the dignity
of parliamentary question, and he really ee-
cured legislative footing for the representa-
ton of minorities. His speech on capital
punishment gave offence 10 some people, but
an angel from heaven could scarcely please
all parties.
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
A subject with which he has become spe-
cially identified Is the representation of NIL
noritleS.n He sees In the mere majority but
another form of force, and he would break
that force By giving 10 every considerable
minority a chance of representation In the
councils of the nation where 1t would have
the best opportunity for making Its SPECIAL
features known, and thereby, If it contained
within itself the seeds of life, create majorl-
ty for the future. What he desires is the
fullest development OF individual liberty con-
sisteDt with the welfare of the whole; but he
also believes that the common veal must de-
pend on this fulness of liberty. This he con-
siders can be best accomplished by system
ct personal aud proportional representation;
.heRce his connection with the Representative
Reform Association.
woNAN'S SUFFRAGE.
Another public movement honored with his
name and advocacy Is woman's suffrage, of
which he Is The honorary president. Doubt
less in this movement Is to be traced the
gentle influence oil her Of whom he said,
swhose exalted sense of truth and right was
nv strongest iucitement, and whose approba-
ton was my chiei reward" He s 10 truth the
apostle of 'swoman's rights" In England, and
has given to the movement the dignity of q
social and political status which otherwise 1t
would not have attained. And 1t must be ad-
mitted that the laiies who are associated with
him in this enterprise are worthy Of the great
man whom they have adopted as their leader.
IRELAND.
There was an incipient organization called
t'The Friends of Ireland Society, being formed
in 1868, for the purpose of forcing on legislation
In regard 10 ireland, more especially 10 refer
ence to the land laws and the Irish Slate
Church. In this Mr.. Mill took the deepest in-
terest, as indeed he has always done in any