New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-18
TESTING DISRAELI And SERIOUS GLAD
STONE.
From The GenIemam's Ma0azine.


When Lord Beaconsfeld sat on the Treasury
bench the dullest debate always had resource OF
interest. No ono knew thai the Premier might not
interpose, and no one could imagine what be would
say IL be did. His resource was unfall1ng ana MS
audacity untameable. In whatever mood be might
be he was interesting. He never laughed hlmseh,
but ne was a cause Of constant laughter in others.
Sometimes when he assumed that solemn mask
from behind which he was won't to give tongue TO
vague and solemn geneTalitles, he was laughed at.
Oftener he was laughed with, and by mere audaolty
he often succeeded in turning into jest situation
which promised to be full of danger.
There Is phrase already become e0lloquialisn,
which illustrates this rare and great Rtt OF govern
ing People often write or say "a great deal nas
happened since then,n and think they are quoting
teal purposes; but whilst the precise wording OF
the aphorism has been lost, the circumstances that
gave it birth have long since been forgotten. IL
was on the 18th of APRIL 1874, that the House was
crowded in expectation of seeing the Premier
iloOred on what was certainly an awkward point.
The new Government had not been long IN once,
aud Parliament had scarcely settled down to work.
During the election contest, the turmoil OF which
was only just subsding. the then candidate Tor
BuckinghamshTe forgot the possibilities or respon-
sbity, and in more than one speech aluded TO the
Coercion Acts, which be denounced as the most
stringent and severe known IN any part OF the
speeches, and had given notice that he would ask
the Prime Minister whether is was true that be had
thus alluded to the Coercion Acts, and If so,
whether Inc considered that such Acts were neces-
sary FOR the ruic Of Ireland by British Parliament
This was just Of those questions that Mt
tIllUktOUe
have treated the matter with supreme gravity, ana
would have RTgue' at some length ~ support or the
Acts What Lord Beaconsheld would 30 In these
circumstances was anticipated with the lyeilest in-
crest Lord Robert MUnfagu put the question
amid the profound silence Of crowded House. The
Premier, approaching the table aud pulling himself
together with the familiar shrug of the shoulders
said with inlInltable voice aud manner IL IS some
time ago since the observations referred TO by the
Noble Lord were made; and, ne added, cropping
Ills voice IN good deal has happened in the inter-
yalr The House burst into roar OF laughter, amid
which the Premier, with face solemn 10 the p0lnp
Of righteousness. resumed his seat, Lord Robert
manner in which the fish that almost seemed to DO
IN his anding-net had escaped. he rose and In
sstpl nnOn having more definite reply, Dut the
Premier had drawn the House with the bait Of q
iest, Lord Robert MOntagu shouted IN vain against
the cries of OrderP that came from all parts OF
AS FOR the Premier he was not the man to spoil o
success by an additional word Whilst Lord Robert
Montagu fumcd and shouted, and the house roareti,
Mr. Disraeli with one hand lightly repOSlng III his
WaiscOat and the other holding copy OF the
"Ordersn sat with one leg crossed over the other,
regarding the lighted ceiling with an aDseDt ar.
This is but one instance of score that recur to the
memory IN looking back at the time, that seems al
ready so far distant, when Mr.. Disraeh led the
In his first session of the new Parliament the
Dosition Of Mr. Gladstone in the House OF Commons
must nave been painful to himself as it was en-
barrassiug to everyone else. No one quite UNDER
| stood # ; and the House Of Commons NAV De f0r-
Given it, after for at least twenty years owning MS
supremacy, it not READILY TO DC brought 10 COLI
sldpr him as holding second rank, or even as not
| having a commission at all circumstances, more
| over were further complicated just then oy sore
bitterness existing between Llneral members anu ~
their great chef; but they cOuld not torget the m
convenience and even danger to which he had SUD
mtted them by reaSon OF tho suddenhesS OIL Vne
This feeling found expression toward the end OF
| April. 1874 when Mr. SmOliett brought on In the
| ahane of n motion what was practically vote oil
Mr. flInHQtnun
| tinn of the late Parliament" This again was one
of those things that Mr.. Disrael would have man
! AGED much better than Mr.. Gladstone. Inc gentie-
| man who undertook to bring the matter under the
notice of Parliament was himself guilty OF RrleVOus
| presumption. He WAS new member, ana so I u
| from personally suffering from the circumstance ne
| deplored he had found seat as consequence OF
II. Mr.. Disraeli would probably have made little
Jest in this direction If indeed he had nosiccd snt
| matter at all, and there the thing would nave
| ended But here was Mr.. Gladstone making an IA
| freGuent appearance OH the Opposition bench with
sheet of notes in hand, listening Wltn Ine Sot
| and rapidly making notes Inere waS eVIuen1S
some fun III store and the House swiftly 6ecam If
crowded. As for Mr.. Smollett what ne undertoot
TO prove was that the late Premier had "organizec
a dissolution in secret and sprung it upon tnt
House" He yariOusy described MS ds SGSs@ct
artidce "a plot, pious fraud" and as "sharI
practice more likely to have come from an unserpp
ions attorneys Office than freu Cabinet OF Eng
Ish Gentlemenn Finally he observed that the strat
agem had recoiled on the head OF the tr1ckster' ava,
This was very coarse, and the House, whlcn; enel
Mr. Gladstone arragned on this deadly sin, rebTket
| Mr. Smoliett with angry cries, of "QrderE Wnei
| Droceeded in an elaborate and eloquent speech &
make an end Of the Tucue4t mfmoe Ss.o d1aE vii h
succeeded is perhaps not matSr nV nsyifaSlv WIZ b
broken on the wheel; but there is always question
whether it we've necessary to put IN action sq En
machinery for such purpose Ihs eagefnSss 40
the sting Of enats has been too often illustrated II
later periods OF the Parliament to make It's reeuT
rence noteworthy 1t has server Sno tn Mt
C6aplin, to draw upon himself q little notice OS
| attacklnR the too sensitive giant.