The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-18

London has rejoiced over the return of
Earl Beaconsfeld. and has added q great
demonstration of popular enthusiasm to
the experiences Of remarkable life. None,
perhaps, but bitter party opponents will
endeavor to belittle the tribute thus paid to
n man who, from the ordinary position OF
commoner. has risen by adroitness, skill,
genius and audacity to be the first man
in England, even if he shall be first
for only little while. England fairly
owes q handsome recognition to the man
who has made her influence SO sensibly felt
in the councils of Europe, and the debt is
not less if in doing SO he has involved him.
self in some queer contradictions; and
should Her Majesty confer a dukedom on
her distinguished Minister it may be safely
said that there are but very small number
of those high honors that have been con-
ferred for more substantial services rem
dered. Indeed if made duke he may
fairly look down upon the majority Of the
holders of such titles as the inheritors of
honors fir less worthily gained,
But surely the whirligig of time is a
great machine, and no one has better reason
to know the fact than Earl Beaconsfeld,
who in his own history has had experience
of all it's swift passages from high to low and
from low to high in political prosperity and
popular favor. Only few days since Eng
land regarded him with dubious mood, and
even the party that was not professedly and
openly opposed to all his operations looked
his diplomacy. Parties in England were
divided between those who hated and de-
nounoed his thoughts, words, pur-
poses and acts and those who ac-
knowledged that they could not see
or comprehend tho wisdom of his
course, but deprecated too harsh judg-
ment. Liberals were severe, even fierce in
their judgments, and conservatives, amazed
at the revelations Of the Schouvalof memo
randum. had not q word to say in his favor.
Even the English journals last received are
| filled with articles that make half-hearted
excuses TO the country for the concessions
which England's representatives in the Con-
| gress had made to Russia, and on the day
ON which we get these latest expressions of
| British opinion that the mail has to give us
the telegraph tells how all the hats of Lon
don are in the air in wild rejoicings of well
| come for the great leader whose unex-
| ampled achievements have done such uc-
speaknble honor to Englands influence
abroad. Conservatives that but day or
two since were cold and dissatisfied are now
wild with joy, and liberals that were in
| ecstasies are silent with chagrin.
And how has Beaconsfeld wrought this
change? How has he justified the delight
of his admirers and supporters? Simply
by doing at Berlin that which these
admirers and supporters have sworn
should never be done while England had n
man or a shilling with which to oppose it.
Desperately has England fought for half
century to oppose the dsmantling and dis
membering of the Ottoman Empire, and
her Premier goes to Berlin, agrees TO such
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, signs Englnnd's consent
for it, makes England deliberately IL party
to it, and when he comes home is hurrahed
over as the greatest of modern statesmen.
1t must be acknowledged that popular
outbursts of enthusiasm have their comic
aspect.