New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-19

decreed and year afterward he died, with
the sneer on his lips that his rival was scuttling
out of Candahar and squandering the prestige
of the Empire.
"a great deal has happened since then" as
Israel Disraelis son once remarked with grim
cynicism. Since the general elections which
resulted so disastrously for the Tories. the
Liberals in their turn have been multiplying
the obligations of the British Government in
every quarter of the world. There have been
campaigns and compromises and new prepara-
tions for war in South Africa. There have been
conquests in Egypt made only to be frittered
away in European negotiations. There mas
been bloodshed at Suakim and on the Upper
Nile, utterly without reason and barren OF USE
ful result. There has been retreat from
Afghanistan followed by Russian aggressions
which the British Government seem either un-
willing or unable to resent. There have been
high. sounding ultimatums and proclamations'
followed by costly ornaments and an ostenta-
tious display of military resources and unless
the cable dispatches of the week are mislead-
ing, there is to be peace without honor. Ii
Lord Beaconsfeld could arise to-day In his old
place in Parliament he would take up the
argument where he dropped it four years ago
and have little difficulty in proving that the
Liberal Administration has been traliicking in
English reputation the world over, pursuing
phantoms as If they were real interests OF the
Empire, undoing everything which he himself
had done, retreating and surrendering all along
the line, and falling into a panic as soon as 1t
had made even n pretence OF lighting. Inc
argument would not be without flaw, but it
could scarcely fail to have great weight with
the English people.
The Justice which could not be meted out to
Lord Beaconsneld when he died, cannot be
withheld on this Primrose Day. The states
man whose name had been stock Joke in
English politics for long generation, could
not then be taken seriously. Caricature had
lent its aid to satire and craftsmanship had pur-
sued him with envenomod breath. The saying
had come to be believed that he was an un-Eng-
lish Prime Minister, a cOnjurer dealing In
Eastern entertainments. His countrymen had
laughed at him and distrusted him too long to
repose confidence in him; and even now it
must be admitted that their instinct was true.
He was lamentably deficient in sincerity he
was without moral earnestness; he had no
higher tests OF craftsmanship than dexterity
and success. But while he was lacking in those
robust traits of character which have given to
Mr.. Gladstone his commanding influence with
the English people, he had more practical
sagacty than even his admirers gave him
credit for during his lifetime.
So much honor at least must be accorded to
Lord Beaconsfield with the primroses OF new
springtime in England. He was clear-sighted
wien the Judgment of rival statesmen was at
fault and when public opinion was confused
and blind. He predicted that the retreat from
Candahar would be a signal for Russian
advance toward Afghanistan. He maintained
that the obligations of the British Government
would be multiplied il they were shirlled in any
quarter of the globe. He believed that the
weight of tho military resources OF the Empire
must be brought TO bear in determining Eng
lands place in Europe and the security of tho
Colonies. His sincerity still remains open to
suspicion. But let the seasons primroses have
their full fragrance and bloom. His Judgment
of foreign affairs and imperial tendencies was
Il.I