The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-07
ESPON NOE.
Letter from England.
LONDON, ENGLAND. Aug. 6.

LONDON, ENGLAND, Aug. 6.
MeSsrS. E'ditors,-It is seldom the case
that the London season continues SO far
In the summer, or Parliament sits so late
as the date of this letter. Ireland and
its miseries is the cause of the prolonged
session this year, and furnishes an unusu-
al opportunity for the visitor to attend
the debates.
Respecting the architecture of the
English House of Parliament
it is sufficient to say that there is little
originality and an excess of ornamental
ton. The lofty Gothic walls, the form
idable towers, the vastness of the proper
tions, the sombre color deepened by vol
umes of smoke from the manufactures,
the gilded angles Of the high cupolas
lighted up by the mysterious rays of a
deeply yelled sun-all this would leave
on the mind stronger impression were
the building crowning a hill as our own
ing as it does on the low-ground of the
Thames embankment, and suffering by
contrast with the finished glory of West
minister Abbey, and the massive grandeur
of the Foreign Office on Pail Mall. And
yet above the impression of. every other
building in London is the indefnable
grandeur of the Parliament House-the
grandeur of the sovereignty it represents
which has been so great by the consent
of ages. What one admires most is not
that which meets the eye, but all that is
thought and done under those vaulted
roofs-the extent of English hberty-the
progress which nothing interrupts-the
prestige of race that has known how to
protect its rights from the universal
serfdom into which all others fell in the
10th century when absolute despotism
prevailed. / take special Joy in entering
the House of Commons under
The Premiership of Gladstone
for more than any statesman o. England,
he represents the power not of trickery
but of conscience in politics. The de-
= ceased Disraeli drew men in his train by
the power of his remarkable genius. His
policy was dramatic, full of political coup
deetat, which dazzled and oft alarmed
the English mind. An adventure" he
was called at home, and truly his schemes
were venturesome. Not long could he
have bullied Europe and meddled every
where without involving England in war
Gladstone is slower but safer man, seek
ing ends by scrupulous and sure rather
than revolutionary means. To arrive al
ends, no matter what the means, was
Disraeli. To arrive at good by the means
of good, to rule human nature by ideas
more than compulsion, to govern a peo-
pie as conscience governs an individual
awakeningin in them with the voice of duty
anobler political morality-nevert to sully
great cause by crime not even for the
palpable welfare of the country-this is
as | take it Glandstone and the only
saving principle of politics in any land
On entering the House of Commons one
can readily perceive that
Talk in England is at Discount,
for such a stumbling, suffering hem.
ming, having lot of speakers it has never
been my lot to listen to. English parlia-
mentarians speak slowly, conduct theil
arguments with many painful pause
that would be secuted by American au.
ditors. Verify glibness is of much les:
worth apparently to a member of parlia.
ment than capacity of work. Oratory. a.
we idealize it, is unknown among the
Queens benches. Even John Bright, the
greatest of English speakers, talks in slow
and measured phrase until he arrives al
his ,peroration, which is usually written
and pronounced with some spirit. Glad.
stone is mechanical talker, depending
for his impression on his thought rather
than passion. He would not be regard.
ed as an eloquent but an able man in
America.
The Land Bill for Ireland.
which was passing its final reading dur.
ing our visit, is fair illustration Of the
collosal working ability Of the Premier
Whatever may be the result Of this law