The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-21
Beaconsdeld Dead.
PEACEFUL ENDING OF A LIFE FULL OF AcTIv-
rrv AMI EyrITr,MENT


PEACEFUL ENDING OF LIFE FULL OF AcTIv.
rrY AND EXCITEMENT.
On Tuesday morning last, in London, Ben
jamin Dsraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, closed 8
life filled with startling events He was con
scious almost to the last, and died calmly and
peacefully.
Lord Beaconsfeld was the eldest son o.
Isaac Disraeli, well-known English author
and was the descendent of Hebrew family
which fourished first in Spain and afterward
in Italy. Lord Beaconsfield was born in Lon
don in 1906. and received private education
which was carefully superintendent by his ia
Their. In 1897 he published his novel, "Vivian
Grey" which was followed at intervals by
other brilliant works of fiction. After visiting
Italy Greece, Turkey and Syria, he returned
to England to find the country involved In the
Reform bill agitation. His sympathies appear
now to have inclined to Radicalsm in politics
and having obtained recommendations from
Mr.. Hume and Mr.. O'Connell, he presented
himself in 1889, to the electors of Wycombe
but was defeated. In May, 1885, he made a
third attempt,at Taunton, as Conservative and
when charged by somebody with "O'Connell.
ISM" made retOrt that led to bitter quarrel
with Daniel O'Connell. In his Taunton
speech Disraeli called his opponent an "incen-
diary" and traitor" and in reply O'Connell
delivered one of those addresses which de-
lighted the idolaters of the "Liberator," and
shocked the genuine friends of Ireland. He
was kind enough to style his opponent "a
liar" and to say that his life was "a living lie
There was good deal more of the same sort
and in the end, with dubious taste but some
wit, he described his opponent as possessing
ho r,t1olitioc of ha i,npopitont az
whose NAME" he added, 81 verify believe must
haye been Disraeli. For aught l know" he
went on, 1.-THE present Disraeli is descended
fro him, and with the impression that he is
now forgive the heir at law Of the blasphe
nous thief who died upon the cross" Nothing
resulted from the challenge that followed, and
party strife was soon after quelled by the
death of William the Fourth, in 1887, and the
accession of Queen Victoria. In the general
election following, Disraeli found himself
elected for Maidstone.
His maiden speech, which was i'll the high
flown style, excited the laughter of the House,
and he was SO much disconnected that he
stopped abruptly; but not without uttering
the remarkable prophecy: 81 shall sit down
now, but the time WILL conc when you will
beay he LIE In 1888 Mr.. W. Lewis died, and
Disraei married the widow of his late col
league. 1t was not until 1849 that he began
to attract notice. and not long afterwards he
gained the ear of the House as the leader of
the Young England party. After entering
Parliament he wrote several novels-"Sybip'
QS45), and "Tancred' Q84D. In 1871 he OBJ
tanned a seat for Shrewsbury. On the death
of Lord George Bentick, in 184S, Disraeli sue
ceeded to the leadership of the Protection
lists insthe House. In 1862 the Earl of Derby
offered him the post of Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. 1t was the first time brilliant
novelist had ever figured as the finance minis
ter of great commercial nation, and it argues
well for the versatility Of his genius that he
emerged With honor and credit from the Or
deal. In 1859 he introduced measure of par
liamentary reform, which, being thrown out,
was followed by the resignation of the gov
eminent. When Lord Derby returned to
power in July, 1866, Disraeli again returned
to the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer In
February, 1868, he succeeded Lord Derby as
Premier; but, in the face of hostile majority,
resigned in the following December. On this
occasion Mrs. Disraeli was raised to the peer
age as Viscountess Beaconsfeld. While out
of office in 1870 he published Lothian" In
1878 the popularity of Gladstone rapidly sub
sided, and the new election of 1874 giving the
conservatives large majority, Disraeh re-
turned to power as Prime Minister. In 1877
he took his seat in the Upper House as Lord
Beaconsfeld. He remained in power until
1880, when, principally on account of his for
eign policy, he was retired and Gladstone re-
turned to the Premiership. Last year Bea-
consfield published "Endymion," novel that
had a wide circulation.