The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-04-01
Ghe Bulletin.
FATHER AND SON.


+ The annals OF history, in all probable
ity. afford mention Of 10 two men, each
bearing the same name, and each alike
distinguished ~ statesmen aud orators.
comparatively in their sphere, to VIII
liam Pitt Lord Chatham), the elder, and
his son " iiliam Pitt THE younger Who.
each In his turn, made his mark so effect.
ually in the parliament Of Great Britain.
Another coincidence In the career VI this
remarkable father, and In that OF his no
less remarkable son, was the extremely
youthful age al which 10th commenced
their plrliarne ntary career. IL We mis-
take not, the elder Pitt (by means consti-
tutional or otherwise, We are at los 10
determlne), obtained a seat in the house
Of commons at the very premature age
of nineteen or twenty. lie u-
signed his commission rs cornet OF q
horse regiment--taking his seat in par
lament with a self possession and hdu-
tsiG-, we cannot doubt, Ia the hi hest de-
gree remarkable. There was one mcm-
Der OF the House IN particular. that
could not bear, what he deemed young
Pitts audacity in participating SO coolly
In its debates. This was no less an indi-
yidual than Horace Walpole, who lost no
time. In reading young Pltt lesson,
bearing upon his iOrwardness in taking
part in the discussions OF the House.
Well aware OF the rull>rdbtIty,in several
respects. of the ill-natured carper who
thus took him TO task, young Pitt
promptly replied to his malevolent sar-
casms. and In such IA style "a to render
Horace "tremblingly alive DER ALL" to
the indignity put upon him by n mere
boy. and BY one, too, whom he (liorace)
considered sort oil half intruder into
Parliament. The atrocious crime tit
was thus he commenced his reply 70
Waipole) 'of being young man, |
shall neither attempt 10 palliate nor de-
ny. bat content myself with wishing
that | may be one of those whose follies
may cease with their youth, and
not Of that number who still continue ig-
norant in spite OF age and experience"
An In reference TO the provertial insolence
OF Walpole, and his ill-gottOn power and
wealth, our Hedging legislator continues,
II shall trample upon the forms with
which wealth and dignity entrench them
selves, and drag the, thief TO justice
wherever he may lurk. Language. il Is
said. which caused Walpole feelinglv to
remark 10 friend on leaving the house,
"Would To heaven | could bride that cor
net OF morse" The son fthis same cornet
OF horse, William Pitt, IT,, was born the
2stn OF May, l1G. and entered Parlla /.
ment III his 22d year. No sooner was he
well-seated In his place than, intent upon
threading in the footsteps OF his glorl-
Gus predecessor" he commenced. fright
and LETT 10 deal out his blows against
the most distinguished orators of the
time. comprising such men as Burke.
Fox and sheridan. The last, more es-
,,ecially. became the target OF bis satiri-
cal missiles. one of which we chance 10
have treasured up in our memory. No
man. said the youthful sa'irist, "ad
mired more than he did the abilities OF that
right honorable gentleman the elegant
sallies OF his thought. the gay efusions
OF his fancy. his dramatic turns, and his
epigramatic points; and II they were re-
served tor the proper stage. they would
no doubt receive, what the honorable
gentleman's abilities always did receive,
the plaudits OF the audieuce. But this
was not the proper scene tor the exhi-
bition of these elegances and he there
fore must beg leave 10 call the attention
OF the house 10 the serious consideration
Of the very important question then be-
tore them" Sheridan was effectually
reused by this equally cool and con-
temptuous attack upon him. on the part
of the "boy" legislator, AMI pro-
cceded TO reply in the following caustic
style: ION the particular sort OF per-
sonality which the right honorable gen.
tleman has thought proper 10 make use
OF. need not uiake any comment-the
propriety. the taste. the gentlemanly
polnt of il must have been obvious to the
House. But let me assure the right hon
orable gentleman. that | do now, and
will az any time when he chooses TO re-
peat this sort of allusion. meet it with
the most sincere good humor. Nay,
will say more-flattered and encouraged
by the right honorable gentleman
panegyric on my talents, if ever ! again
engage in the composition lie alludes to,I
may be tempted to an act Of presump.
tion--to attempt an improvement on one
of Ben Johnson's best Characters. the
character Of the angry 60V in the
Alchvmist." Pitt, as far as we are
aware. evinced towards Sheridan a res
pectful feeling ever afterwards.