New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-14
LORD RUSSELL1S DEATH.
PHASES OF HIS GREAT CAREER.

Ills PERSONAL PPEARANCE-PATRIOTISM- 1HE ALA
BAMA COMPREHENSIVE FOR THE AMERICAN
REBELIIoN-wHAT HE THOUGHT or IT IN LATE
YEARs-ANECDoTEs OF HIM.
PROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON, June 1.-What have to say of the illus
triOus statesman who died on Tuesday will not be
IN the nature of biography; still less attempt
at a complete estimate OF his character. Everybody
who cares for him has reviewed for himself the
main acts of his great and reconsidered his
own opinion of the man by the side of his
opening tomb. 1t ia too soon for the final word
on Lord Russell to be spoken too late for a re-
capituation of the leading facts Of his life All
shall attempt is to record certain impressions, and
to comment briefly two passages in his
history with a sketch Of features in his char
acter which to me were among the most striking.
Lord Russell's long life and eventful progress
through the world have supplied great deal of ma
teral to history, but not much for the aneedote
mongers He is hardly picturesque figure. He
was never a popular favorte like Palmerston,
though his services 10 his cOuutrymen were immeas-
urably greater than those Of the clever dipl0matst
whom Carlyle chose to style the last great Eng
lishman. And 1t is to be remarked that most
of the sayings which survive are not his
own; they are the sarcasms of his foes.
The Johnny who upset the coach I'm
1884 dill not make the joke at his
own expense. surely. That he was known so com
monty as johnny" Russell, may be said to be
a proof Of the kind of popularity which bestows
affectionate nicknames on its heroes. But it was
not that so much as his pigmy height which earned
him the sobriquet He was never a favorite Of the
platform the people who owed him half the liber-
ties they enjoyed were half cold to their benefactor.
They acknowledged the obligations freely enough.
But they never took the author of them into their
hearts. 1t was not their fault but his; or If not
ms fault, II was defect of.his nature; an undue
predominance Of the intellect the affections.
Hisnature was not sympathetic and his manner had
little charm Ills manners freeze" said Bulwer,
long ago. in his New Timon"
like or dislike, he does not care iot
Ho wants your vote but your affection NOT
If he had been Emperor Of Russia, ne would have
freed the scrfs; not from any longing tenderness for
the sufferer; not out Of an irresistible impulse Of
humanity; but from a logical conviction that lib
erty was better form Of social existence than seri
dom. And he would have found quotation from
Fox to prove that it was a good Wing measure.
lie could neither excite the passions Of an assem-
bly, nor fascinate his hearers by bis persuasive
powers. But he was one Of the best debaters who
ever lived. As in his dispatch writing lac had
hard. dry way OF putting his case, ropelleut but
luminous that convinced you against your Will.
And he knew tho House Of Commons as few men
knew it. never could make out precisely what it
was in his speeches that led Mir. Summer 10 pro-
nounce them the best specimens Of reported oratory
during the last OF present generation. But a man
need not be great orator in order 10 lead the House
of Commons. a man unlike Mr. Sumner as the
Duke of Wellington long ago set Lord John not less
high. To Sam Rogers, who was remarkng on the
array Of strong men opposed to Lord John-Peel,
Stanley, Graham, ctc.-thc Duke replied; Lord
A. "a
speaker he Is very good-clcar and distinct
If not always forcbe; q debatcr quite
hrst-rate /" aud Brougham's testimony Is worth
having because he az least as ready 20 critcisc
as 10 praise "Thc Alta, of this unhappy admiulstra-
ton. Mr. Tcknor calls him in 1888; after having
patronized him twenty years before As % young
man Of q good deal Of literary knowledge and taste,
from whose acquaintance | have had much pleas
urcw He was "a little man IN stature. Punch used
~ depict him sitting Oh ms bench M the House Of
Lords bis legs dangling only half way To- the hoor.
HIS couutcnance was 40 moro commanding than his
stature. il was not handsome. what Is commonly
called arstocrauc. but strong hard, seifsatisied.
and imperious The hkenesses you will lind ia the
two leading illustrated papers OF London arc both
good.
MS FRIENDSHIP TOR TIE CoNfEDrEACY.
spite Of his genuine sympathy with Liberalism on
the Continent, spite Of his readiness 20 strike
blow, and his still greater readiness TO give biz OF
good advice 10 struggling nationaltics or oppressed
subjects abroad. which earned him the famous sucer
of Lord Derby about meddliug and muddiiug,
Lord Johns patriotism, too, often took the form Of
an intense chauvnism. He was In favor oil just so
much liberty elsewhere as did not menace what be
thought the ughlfu supremacy Of England,
or risk tho cntauglement OF England III
doubtful conflict HIS desertIon Of Dem
mark in 1864 will be a lasting blot
on his fame. Sowll his championship Of the Slave
bolder5 Rebellion from 1861 70 1868 and '6i. Tie
took sides with The weaker party say bis friends.
1t is the common excuse put forward during the
last ten years by the few Engishmcn who have not
succeeded IN pcrsuading themselves that they were
all along friends OF the Union. But il viii not hold
water. Lord Russell himself is too honest to say
ANYTHING Of the klnd His policy was purely
British policy; as much when be declined the
Bonapartist proposals for a recognition OF the
Confederacy as when he shut his eyes and closed his
ears and let the Alabama sail down the Morscy on
her mission of destruction 20 American ships and
announcement 20 the British carrying trade.
As from time to time during recent years tho old
man came again 10 the froIt, | have written what
had 10 be written on Lord Russells conduct to the
limited States during the Rebellion. American
comments on his performances as Foreign Minister
could hardly be otherwise than critical OF even hos
tile IN tone when tho Alabama business came under
discussion / should be glad TO say to-day that the
criticism was undcscryed, and that what had said
was said in the heat of controversy about matters
of temporary interest. But / cannot. The Earl
Russell best known OF late days TO us Americans Is
the Foreign Secretary of 18Gl-GJ, whom we had to
recognize as an enemy at time when
VIC had a right TO expect his friend
ship. lie has Acknowledged his mistake since,
and expressed KIND Of regret for it, and 30 far we
may meet him half way and silence our just indig-