The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-08-08


Major ]. II. Stewart was then elect
ed chairman of the county executive
committee, when the =cnnVentinn- -ad-
----ss..rn.seonees of DIsraeII
and Louis Napoleon.
"reminiscences of great men remind
us that accidents make heroes and de-
stroy men of equal mental caliber.
Napoleon. the First would never have
been Emperor of France il he had not
been able 70 borrow 100,O 900 francs
from jeweler in the Rue YiEienne, in
Paris. Napoleon III.-would never have
been Emperor of France If he had notl
had an obliging mistress in London,
Mrs. Howard, who loaned him $780,
600 to assist him in capturing the
thro le Of France. Pitt would never
have been Premier of England If he
had not been the son of the Earl of
Chatham. Fox, the intellectual giant,
owed his position to Lord Holland.
Disraeli and Gladstone, like Peel, owe
their positions to fortuItous circum-
stances. But Disraeli (or Beaconsfield,
as he is now recognized) owes his posi-
ton more to his great intellect than
any other man on the European conti-
nent, not excepting Bismarck. In the
House of Commons he had no peer, and
In the House of Lords he has no equal.
/ remember him well when / was q
young man, full of the same ambition
IS had animated himself twenty years
before / met bim. was a member OF
the Literary and Scientific Institution
in Aldersgate street, London. (nearly
opposite the postoffice), in 1914, which
had a membership of 500, and it was
customary to hold semi-annual meet
ings, that were presided over by rising
eminent men. At these meetings some
of the best elocutionists of their class
delivered recitations, and short debates
took place on the most stirring ques-
tions of the day. | happened 70 be
appointed a member OF the committee
deputed to wait on Mr.. .Disraeli, at
his house in Park Lane, Picadilly, to
ask him to preside at cur semi-annual
meeting. Associated with me was
John Humphreys Parry (now Mr.. Ser
geant Parry, one of the most eloquent
members of the English barr, Mr..
Thomas Hill, who l afterwards met in
Australia, an elocutionist who has no
equal in our Institute, and two other
gentlemen who have risen to fame.
We waited on Mr.. Disraeli, by ap-
pointment, and were received by him
and Mrs. Disraeli-the late Countess of
eaconsfield-whom he had recently
married; Mrs. Disraeli having been the
widow of Mr.. Wyndham Lewis when
DIsraeli married her, and brought him
the snug little sum of EI00, 900, which,
in reality, was God-send to him, for
at that time he was in the hands of the
money-leaders in Chancery lane, and
living in high style, be could scarcely
have extricated himself from his.
pecuniary difficulties if the. handsome
widow had not taken compassion on
the literateur and would. be statesman,
with his handsome curls and heaven
sent eyes. OF course we were received
elegantly, and my friend Parry beng
considered the best qualified 70 address
the rising statesman, he requested Dis
raeli 20 preside over the semi-annual
meeting of the institute, and stated
that the members would feel greatly in
AIDeCA " nm ASA oby DNSbNoSA-4o AOa
its advancement.
] shall never forget the extraoTdi-
nary look Disraeli gave Parry. With
an eye that looked from out the SOU,
with q Mephistophelism that has
marked his subsequent career, he said
70 Mr.. Parry: 81 will have the honor
TO preside over your mesting and Mrs.
Disraeli viii be present; but, by the
bye, I happened 70 be IN the court Of
common pleas yesterday and heard
your eloquent defense. II should
e7er have any influence Jon can com
mAnd me.n He afteTwsrd made Parry
9 sergeant Of law. Mr.. and Nrs. Dis
raeli attended our meeting and he
made an eloquent address.
The most extraordinary expression
he made was, '.llAn can be what be
pleases; every one Of you can be ex-
actly what you design 70 be. I have
resolved 70 hold certain position and,
II / live, WiJl.D Three years after
tbis was At Black Gang Chine, IN the
Isle Of Wight riding with my wife in