The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-19

the head that directs and controls. There
can be no more striking illustration OF this
truism than the position which England
now holds in Europe during its present adj
minstration in contrast with the former one
under Mr.. Gladstone.
Let us admit there are few men who enjoy
more brilliant reputation He is scholar
Of vast classical requirements, a good writer,
very able tinancier, an eloquent debater,
and in private life adorned with all the
graces of a Christian gentleman And yet,
with all these qualities, we hesitate to con-
cede to him the character of statesman.
We consider Webster, Clay and Hamilton
Fish superior in trained and practical
knowledge Of this somewhat peculiar and
exclusive science.
Peace, retrenchment and economy are
good .electioneering planks, but should
never be the entire staple of government
platform. These indispensable qualities
may, if adopted too exclusively, tend to
lower the dignity and prestige of nation.
The administration of Mr.. Gladstone, of
which John Bright was one of its ruling
spirits, almost nullified the political exist
ence of England and completely destroyed
its weight in the councils Of Europe. 1t con-
sisted ola 'peace at any price policy the
adoption of the maxlms of the Manchester
school, and was signalized by failures, con-
cessions and humiliatlons.
ne will pass over the Geneva arbitration
that was matter not only of policy, but of
justice, yet it certainly was in contrast with
the conduct of Palmerstons somewhat high
handed manner of treating the Alabama
claims-and will only allude to one or two
events not over creditable. Mr. Gladstone
allowed Russia to tear up the Treaty of
Paris, which had cost SO much blood and
treasure to conquer, without protest, and
with the faintest possible dissent. He saw
with indifference Hanover, IN almost collat-
eral fief of the British Crown swallowed mp
by Prussia with absolute calmness France,
her ancient ally, despoiled of two of her
most valuable and historical provinces, and
amerced in an enormous war penalty,
sum Of equal magnitude to our national
indebtedness, without even a friendly
remonstrance but consoled himself for
this abandonment and loss of national
prestige by the boast of having saved money
in the army and navy estimates, while his col
league, John Bright, thought that all short
comings could be condoned by giving to his
blushing country "a free breakfast table"
The reaction came, the Ministry fell, by
the concurrent voice Of all classes radicals,
liberals and conservatives Mr.. Gladstone
was relegated to private life, to enjoy his
disquisitions on Homer and his voluminous
diatribes against the Pope, tempered with
the healthy physical exercise of telling trees
The other disjccta menbrd were mostly
sent to that political limbo of incapables,
the House Of Lords, while Bright still soothes
his exclusion from Office by cigar in the
smoking room of the Reform Club, where
his pugnacity in argument forms contrast
to his Quaker garb and his public peaceful
professions A worthy good man, withal, is
the Right Honorable John Bright, and per-
haps the first Quaker who ever had such a
handle to his name.
And when Gladstone resigned Benjamin
Disraeli reigned in his stead. Then came
the man, he the son of naturalized
Jew, himself only baptized at twelve years
of nge, without the advantages of public
school or university education, beginning
life as an attorneys clerk, crippled with
youthful debts, sneered at as IN adventurer
and mere writer of novels a failure in the
House Of Commons at the outset, when he
was obliged to resume his seat amid de-
risive laughter. This man, who then said on
sitting down, ''the time will come when you
shall hear me-" has, by mere force of natu-
raj ability, by energy, by real statesmanlike
qualities, become Prime Minister Our val
liable letter by cable on the nth inst. tells us
that England holds the trumps in the politi-
cal game now playing Austria, Germany
and Russia pause when Disraeli objects.
Turkey crushed, shaken to her centre by
debt, misrulc and fanaticism, looks round
with suppliant eyes to him as her preserver.
When he opens his lips the great money
centres Of the world are shaken. He says
peace, and, like that beautiful description in
Virgil of Eolus recalling to their caves the
angry and clustering winds, all is hushed.
We have drawn the contrast. Let us deduce
from it moral and warning. Although
iii our great and free country the people ex-
ercise u controlling elective and dominant
voice, yet when once they have pronounced
it, when once their suffrages are given, they
lose all direct control over the government
for four years. They should, therefore, re-
fleet that there is no single man who, for
veal or for woe, can influence so much the
destinies Of our country as the President
of the United States. He may disgrace MS
by weak foreign policy he may interfere
much with our progress by a shifting domes-
tic one; he may fill up Cabinet offices by
weak, corrupt and incapable men he may
surround himself by venal and discreditable
friends and favorites he may become unjust
and partial by nepotism he may lower our