The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-07-31
Lord Beaconsfield at Berlin.

Toere is probably no living man more
profoundly satisfied with his position
than Lord Besconsield. It is impcssi.
BILE not to imagine him delighted with
the sensation which it is impossible to
suppose that he did not intend. He is
the first minister, and really the ruler
OF England, because it is we'll under
stood that British policy is his policy.
he IS one of the most conspicuous
figures Of the time. He is apparently
one OF the most mysterious and success.
ful of statesmen. Yet there is no man
about whom there is more speculation
and wonder. and admiration and dis.
trust; and there is probably only one
thing In which those who admire him
and those who dislike and distrust him
agree entirely, and that is bis inexpres.
sible enjoyment in the consciousness ol
being precisely the spectacular kind OF
man that he 10. We are, indeed, con-
temporary with one of the picturesque
characters of English history. There
is nothing more remarkable than that
the grandson of a Venetian Jew, OF
Spanish descent. growing up in Eng
land socially in the solitude Of his race
dashing into literature as q brillisn,
novelist. and into politics a. free
lance. should rise TO supreme power
and, as Peer Of the Realm. control her
foreign policy at most critical
moment, supported by the Court. the
aristocracy, and the squirearcby, a
Tory of Tories, and restoring. by wha,
seems sheer audacity, the ancient re
nown of England.
Prime Ministers, not native TO the
countries which they controlled, are
not unknown to European history
notably in Spain, which ranks as one oi
the proudest of uations. But the Eng-
lisn feeling has always regarded these
instances as those Of the amazing sue
ces Of adventures. who sometimes left
the countris that they had ruled. aud
died neglected and exposed. 1t ha:
considered both Alberoni and Ripperda
as Caglios in politics. and it is this feel
ing. iuvincible in the British breast
which looks upon Lord Beaconsfield a.
a charlatan. The word is openly and
generally used in speaking Of him, and
some striking articles in recent mum.
bers of the Fortnightiy Recieu were
devoted to tho political adventures oi
Lord Beaconsfeld cunning impli.
cation that Lord Beaconsfeld is a pol
i:icsl adventurer. 1t is curious in
quiry whether the kind of distrust and
aversion with which this dazzling sue
cessful career is regarded is due wholly
to the fact Of race. 1t is not mere
party spite, because it is not peculiar
to party. aud it is unique in the history
of British parties. 1t is not due wholly
and perhaps not ut all distinctively, tc
the conviction Of want of principle.
Lord Palmerston was not supposed to be
troubled with principle, but he was the
darling of the exclusively British feel
ing which now cherishes Lord Beacons
field. Lord Palmerston wanted Eng
land to have finger in every pie, as
the saying is. and his foreign policy
charmed the bully instinct in John
Bull. The Clubs and the courtiers and
the whole Tory interest have applaud
ed in the same way the foreign policy
not quite honorable and fair, as ii
seemed to many-of the brilliant Bea-
consfield. with his jsded face and his
vanishing curl. relic of the days OF
gorgeous and hslf-vulgar coxcombry.
There is drawing. by Chas. Martin.
Of Disraeli in the old dandy days. II
represents MIN lounging at length in a
large luxurious easy chair. in loose
coat aud the gaitsr trOwsers OF the time,
full forty years ago. The head is very
hsndsome-the head of Antinous. The
hair clusters around the fine dome OF
the brain, so to speak. and the mouth
is full rich. and of voluptuohs lines. 1t
is precisely the figure that every
romantic and fas ,insted reader of WV
ian Gray" would expect to see as that
of the author-an imaginative and intel
lectual Sybarite. Yet. photograph of
Lord Beaconsfield to-day in his seventy
second year, showing the familiar He
brew expression more strongly defined,
and the look Of extreme satisfaction In
the fullness of passionate youth faded
into the wesrinsss Of dandyism grow
ing old, 10 not unlike that earlier draw
ing. 1t is easy to believe that either OF
them is the dramatic parsonage OF the
Berlin Congress Lord Bsaconsfieid. "
said the report of the opening days. sis
the centre of attraction. His personal
qualities. past career and recent success
es. equally command the attention OF
the public. The Kaiserhof Hotel, at
which the British Premier alighted. at
tracts hundreds of curious visitors all
day. If on passing the Kaiserhof one
sees . crowd, it is certain they are
watching to see Lord Beaconsfield.
You smile as you read. Thousands
and thousands Of persons in England
and America smile as they read. and
say to themselves, AHA! old True
penny" This is Disraelf. No greater
self-satisfaction is conceivable than that
of the luxurious lounger of Park Lane
rejecting that. as Prime Minister of
England, he is the chief and mysterious
and popular figure at q great European
Congress to readjust the map and CON-
pose the continent. 1t is the measure
of the man that undoubtedly the feel
lug is universal that the eciat of the
position is as delightful to him as any
service that he may do. and that even
if he could restore to England. as his
sycophsnts a.lege that he has already
restored, the foreign renown that it
had in the days of Pitt. his chief in :
terest in the matter would be his own
plory rather than the welfare of Eng
land This feeling may be very un-