The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-09-16
The 1Iolisei PoxSEs Of t.eNi j. "a
. ions Life. -
If,nr MereIto dafne grnoralIy- az

IONS Life.
five weTeito define generally tho
great aOtiye pcTss which influenced
lhis lie, we Shouldsay it was a pas
sion fer improvement; and the forces
iby which this principle was to be.
carried out were patient labor, per-
severance and thorouglrness-ail in-
srircdsby that enlightened patriotism,
which is one Of the expressions of
pure philanthropy. The application
Of his nastcrsprfscipsc began with
himself. Selfculture was his fife-
longhabit.y We fndhim intoxicating
liz on all whocame under his infiu-.
cnce, and inviting the co-operstiOn
Of others, that the range of its cflica-
cy might be extended. Whether he
is addressing an assembly of school
boyser the coaisid Ofa university or.
1.-The mel bcrSaf 4 nlechanic.s inssi:.
I tute; whether he IS instructing a COZ
onial governor, who is his subordin-
ate, OF suggesting schemes to his own
political chief-for all he has the
same adjurations. 'Improye your
selves" or Enlarge for others the
means and the motives for seh:fn-
provemcnt." The incentive to self
Improvement in his own case was,
his son tells US, in comparing a trait
in his character with a correspond
ing one in that of Goethe, always
an intense desire to be instrumental
in the improvement Of his fellow
creatures" and he says of himself
that @his deal aim, in relation to
popular liberty, was to elevate the
masses in character and feeling" and
aaristscratize the community" The
nearer this heroic standard could be
approached by the English people
the greater would be the influence
exercised by England over other ma.
tions-an Influence which he desired,
bccxusc If so obtained, it could not
fail to be beneficial to mankind.
Thus with him the spheres as well
as the motives for self-improvemcnt
were personal, patriotic and philan-
thropic-thrce links completing the
chain whichconnccts the sympathics
and destines, moral social, Of the
unit with those of the race.
1t has been remarked of Lord Lyt-
ton that, distinguished as his intel
lectual history was by growth and
progress, there was singular matur-
lily in his youth, and a remarkable
-i:y6uthfuIness IN his maturity;az.1,
this was to some extent due to the
firm grasp which, while young he took
Of the principle VIC have been discus
sing, and which, strengthening with
his own develop mcnt, gave peren-
nial vigor to all his efforts. Thcsen-
eral motive power of his life bcing
thus Improvement, the motivepower
of his political life was simply the
application of this principle to that
special department of this activity.
Now, between the spirit of i'm
prorcment which implies healthy
progress-at fitting tinnes-and the
spirit Of restless change which in
wolves perpetual drogress, no matter
in what direction, there is, of course,
the widest distinction. No ono re-
cognizcd The distinction more clear
ty than Lord Lytton-and his recos-
milton OF it affected, as We have seen
his relations with parties. But
whatever tends really to improve
constitution, must tend to preserve
it; and thus, in political matters, i'm
pr6vement by healthy and welEtimed
progress is equivalent to the doctrine
Of conservation by improvement,
which was the logical issue of Lord
Lytton's lnaster-principle, and the
CARDINAL point alike in his political
creed and in his social philosophy
: Blactnoods Maga=i'es.