The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-08-09
The Earl of Beaconsfield.


gujshed honors to q man whose
career is one of the most extraordi.
nary on English history. BENJAMIN
Disraeli, now nearly 70 years old,
has been before the English public
as a literary man or as politician
for fifty-four years He began life
with neither wealth or title noI
family influence to aid him. He
achieved extraordinary success as
an author, became the leader of the
House of Commons, then Minister
of Finance, then Prime Minister
then leader of the Government
party, and nHallY, Prime Minister
again. Now, with the rank of Earl,
and honored as one of the most
brilliant of European diplomatists
he returns from Berlin, the scene OF
his triumphs, the most popular man
in England.
Disraeli's Jewish ancestors went
from Spain to Venice in the fif-
teenth century, and giving mp their
family name took that of DjsraeIi.
His grandfather removed to Eng
land in 174S, where his father was
born in l76G. OF Jewish descent,
Benjamin Disrseli has been most
thoroughly an Englishman in his
instincts, prejudices, and ambitions,
and from the time he wrote "ViVian
Gray" in 1926, he has been a favor
lite in English society. In his earlier
political struggles his opponents
tainted him with being a Jew, and
the celebrated O'COnnell said of
him: ''For aught I know the pres
ent Disraeli is the true heir-at-law
of the impenitent thief who died on
the cross" For this, or on account
of the quarrel that grew out of it,
Disraeli challenged O'Connell's son,
but the challenge was not accepted.
In 1881 Disraeli made an attempt
to enter Parliament as Tory Radi-
cal, but was defeated. In 1884 he
made another attempt, and was
again defeated. In May, 1886, he
made another attempt, as a thor
ough-going Conservative, and was
again defeated. At last, in 1887, in
the first Parliament of the reign of
Queen Victoria, he entered the
House of Commons as Conserva-
tive. His maiden speech was a
complete failure, and the House, re-
fusing to listen, clamored him
down. 1t was on this occasion he
said, 81 shall sit down now, but the
time will come when you will hear
me-" Four years later Disraeli was
a rising member, and his speeches
were praised for their ability. In
l847 he began to take q leading part
in the House of Commons, and in
lS49 he became the recognized lead
er of the Conservative party, and
had the reputation of being one of
the most powerful debaters in the
kingdom. In 1852 he was made
Chancellor of the Excheqeer, and
became the leader of the ministe-
rial party in the House of Com
mons. He went out of office with
the Derby Ministry, but returned
to Office in 1858, and in 1859 brought
forward his plan of electoral re-
form, which extended suffrage to
the whole body of the educated
class without regard to property.
This was defeated. In 1866 Disraeli
was the leader of the opposition in
the House, but again became Chan
cellor in 1867, and passed his electo-
raj reform bill in modified form TO
a successful issue. In February,
1868, Disraeli became Prime Minis
ter, but was succeeded By Gladstone
in December. He became Prime
Minister again in 1874, and since
that date has shaped the policy of
the government, and has carried
England, without war, through q
great European crisis, securing the
greatest diplomatic triumph ofsthe
century.
People who haveread and studied
Disraeli's novels, and the majority
are of political or philosophical
character, have found in them hints
as to his diplomatic methods. More
than any other man in England, he
has studied the mysterious diplO-
macy of Russia, which has so often
COMPOUNDED aud 0EeFreached West
ern Europe" and had given quite as
much attention to the character of
Turkish civilization, So, when his
opportunity came, he / Abandoned
the policy of his predecessors, and,
using his knowledge of Russian in
trigues, schemes, and ambitions,
met Russian diplomacy on its own
ground, and, joining hands with
Russia, made sure of his objects
weeks before the Berlin congress
met. The results are simply daz-
cling. Instead of unfolding an
effete empire, he lifts the garden OF
Asia, which has lain PROSTATE at the
feet of the Turk for centuries, again
into the light of European civiliza-
tion, and circumstances indicate
that, with Russia's aid, he has set
tied the vexed Eastern question for
all time.
Why should not England honor
such q man 2 He has led an unex-
ceptionally pure life.- HE married
life, extending over . period of
thirty three years, was like 4 dream
Of poesy, and when, in 1872, = bare
headed old man walked in the rain.
following the remains of1hIs speFs
feet wifep to the grave, all England
was touched. Pure In life, success
full in literature, q LEADER in politics.
and 9 master Ia dipIomacY1such IL
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beacons-
field-snd England honors herself
IN honorlng hfm.-Chicag0 later
Ocean. li-l lll#agly ) l1I1