Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-04-26
Death Of Benjamin D'Israeli, Earl Of
BeacOnsfield.

= - a.. - ~ ~ A. 4
Death Of BENJAMIN D'Israeli, Earl Of
Beac0nsf1eld.
This distinguished man of the Hebrew
race, who was prominent not only as q
star of the first magnitude in the galaxy
of literature, but also in craftsmanship,
died in London. England, at O'Clock
on last Tuesday morning, the 10Th inst,
in the 18th year of his age.
AS the Richmond State says, "his
death ends one of the remarkable
careers the world has ever known.
Benjamin D'Israeli was born of He
brew parents in the city of London
near the close of the year 1905, and was
the eldest son of Isaac D'Israeli, dis
tinguished man of letters. Attractive
in manly beauty, In manner, and in
conversation, he became favorite
wherever he went. At an early age he
went into solicitors Office, but finding
the law distasteful, he turned to litera-
ture, and when only twenty.one years
old gave to the public his first book,
"Vivian Grey" This beginning was
thoroughly successful, and was quickly
followed by novel after novel, pamph-
let after pamphlet, and translation after
translation. Some of these have crum-
bled away from the public sight, and
are well nigh forgotten, but others,
"The Young Duke" "Conturini Flem-
ing" histriology of "Coningsby."
"SibyW and "Tancred," and his almost
autobiography of Lothian" remain as
the supports on which rests his reputa-
ton as novelist. His latest work, En-
midyon," would soon be forgotten were
it not that it was written after he had be-
come Premier of England. For to
the name of the writer rather than to
what he has written the book owes its
fame.
But D'Israeli's literary work is of far
less importance than his influence upon
the political affairs Of his time and
country and its probable effect hereaf-
ter. Entering at the age of thirty-two
the first Parliament in the reign of. the
Queen of whom in after years he was
to be the most trusted counsellor, he
gave for q time but little promise of his
brilliant future, and, failing in his first
speech, amidst the clamors of the House
of Commons, he made his short but
memorable answer: 1.-THE time will
come when you shall hear me-"
Soon after the beginning of his publ
career he married the widow of his
friend, Wyndham Lewis, and to her he
gives the credit for his political success.
His first great public effort was his
speech against Sir Robert Peel. whom
he denounced on account of his advoca.
cy of free trade as traitor to his party.
Honors came to him quickly. He was
Chancellor of the Exchequer in Lord
Derby's three ministries, and in 1868 he
became Premier. Opposed to the dis
establishment of the Irish Church, his
party was defeated in the elections and
in the same year in which he had be-
come Premier he and the other men,
bers of his Cabinet resigned.
In 1874 Conservative majority caus-
ed him for the second time to be made
Premier, and he remained at the head
of the Government until the elections OF
1880, when the victory of the Liberals
forced his Ministry to retire. For
twenty eight years, from 1849 to 1877,
when he was raised to the Peerage and
took his seat in the House of Lords, he
| had been the leader OF his party in the
House of Commons"
LOCAL OPTION IN ROCKINGHAM.
A meeting in favor of "Local OPTION
was held at Mt. Clinton on the 18th
inst, at which, after addresses, the fol.
lowing preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, 1t is highly desirable thai
Local Option should be obtained
whereby it would be provided by Law
that the qualified voters of each cor
porate tOUn and of each election dis
trict shall have right to vote on thu
subject of ''license to sell spurious
liquors or no license" at any authorized
election, and that where a majority Of
the voters shall be against it, no sucf
license shall be granted in the town o.
district so voting.
RESOLVED, It is the opinion of thu
meeting that movement for Local OPP
ton can be successfully started in Mt
} Clinton election district.
End, 1t is the sense of this meeting
that State Local Option Convention
shall be called to meet in Charlottesville
Va, first Tuesday in May, or as soon a
possible thereafter
3rd, That we hold it to be the duty O
every citizen, to endeavor by the use O
all peaceful and legitimate means to Sc
cure the early adoption, by our Stat
Legislature, of General Local Op
ton Law"-that is, law allowing
each inc orporated city or town or cleo
ton district to determine, by vote
whether or not intoxicating liquor
shall be sold within its boundary, saw
for mechanical and medicinal purposes
4th, The appointment of committe
consisting of Jacob Funkhouser, Weltol
Switzer, and VIM. III. BURNER, be ap
pointed to secure the CO. operation of tn
Ifl6uUS Oh LOCal OpllOu III Ills County
and. if deemed practicable, have coun
ty convention called to devise measure
to secure Local Option for Rockingham
county, in case State Local Option
Convention should fail to meet.
SINGULAR VERIFICATION OF PRE-
D1CTIoNs.-"Bildad," the Washington
Correspondent of the Richmond State
under date of the 10Th inst, says =
Senator Jackson, of Tennessee. wa
reminded to -day of curious yer ifica
ton of predictions made thirty year
; ago, when Jackson, Thomas Malon
and Charles E. Fennor occupied con
tiguous rooms as students at the Uni
1 versity of Virginia. They were bool
companions and foremost in their class
! A brother student sketched the three il
group one day, and said, what shall
,, put under each figure? "Put unde
mine, }" said Jackson, jackson address
ing the United States Senate " "Ane
l