New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
A TYPICAL ENGLISHMAN.
LIFE OF WILLIAM EDWARD FORSTER


These volumes are prcfaced with single
sententious sentence from Mr.. Gladstones tribute
10 Mr.. Forster: He man upon whom
there could be no doubt that Nature had laid
her hand for the purpose of forming thoroughly
genuine and independent character 1t is only
when the course of this narrative has been
patiently followed 10 the close that the full
force Of this cptomc Of the life and character Of
one OF the noblcst and most characteristic of
Engshmen can be appreciated. Genuine and
independent Mr.. Forster was above all things
else These two qualities. which were the hertz
age of Quaker ancestry. explain at once his
successes in public life, and the misconceptions
and suspicious from which he suffered throug hout
his career.
With the single exception Of Mr. Gladstone. no
Englishman OF this generation more thor
oughly in earnest than Mr.. Forster II i'm
possible for him TO be either faint hearted or
neutral on any question that appealed TO his
sense Of public duty. Quick in his sympathy
for noble ideals, he was also vigorously practi-
Col in adapting his wosll TO the actual require
mcnts of the time Striving with all his heart
10 leave the world better than he found il, he
adhered tcnacousy TO his convictions Of right and
duty and perscvercd in his course even when
he saw that the stars were fighting against HIM.
Energy like his is o consuming fire and it
rtUneS anu puIlHtS Nudi - 'tSN AZ " mani ''''
youth and early manhood were haunted with
desire 10 do some great work for his country:
and when, unaidcd by birth superior education
or wealth, he had risen from obscurity TO one
Of the foremost places IN England he devoted all
the forces Of a singulary strong personality and
ell the resources Of mind and heart 10 the solu-
ton Of two Of the most difficult and pcrpeXing
questions of tho day. Swayed by enthusiasm and
lofty purpose. nc was sincere UNAFFECTED ana
modest withal. more willing to follow than eager
"a lead yet content TO bear the heat and burden
of conflict or controversy when there was work
10 he done. a duty 10 be performed. Genuine
in all things he dependent only on his own
conscience Sturdy and sclf-resPecting manhood
such as his paid tribute neither 10 faction. party
nor creed. to constituency nor caucus, 10 Ministry
nor leader. at the cost Of his onvictions He
was as independent in action he was sincere
in motive and earnest in purpose. lie night be
CHARGED with deserving the Radicals on the Educa-
ton question. or with rchclling against party
authority at Bradford or with pursuing barren
md hopeless policy in Ireland, but he could not
H. pcrsuaded TO be any one else than William Eli
ward Forster master of his own thoughts and
responsible for word and dcod before tie bar Of
his own moral consciousness. His g'nnlnencSS
simplicity and sincerity commanded the respect
Of hi, enemies His Independence emhiitercd the
ClIllCtm CT lOl'Ifol aIlit> anu NSlA"H-'N u'''Ha
who had called themselves his followers and
friends.
The biography Of Mr.. Forster. in justice TO his
,,rmcrv could only be told in ono way. and hap
rilv The author Of these volumes has discerncd
The straight and narrow patti and resisted every
temptation to depart from IT, The story Of tins
noble and eventual life is narrated 80 for as
possible in his own words. in the letters which he
addressed 30 his family. personal friends and
POLITICAL associates. ana in the diaries which he
kept during the greater part Of his life HE (
au;ho~ is justified in his belief that many readers
who have been prcJudiced against Mr. Forster /
and been won, 10 form unfavorablc opinions Of
his work and character. VIII find much in these /
volumes to compel them TO reconsider and reverse /
thcr vcldict 4 riliant entertaining letter /
writer he was not, but every familiar comnunica- /
ZION which he wrote had the charm Of absolute |
sincerity and transparent candOr The earnest /
ness genuinencss and nobility of his mature shine
through every page Of the volumnOus correspond |
cnce which has been placed under the blographers /
charge fIc may not have been right about /
iceland. but he thought he was; and no English
man ever had deeper sympathy for that unhap-
piest oi islands. nor more intense desire TO
lighter rs darkness and to give it peace. Readers
who have never been able 10 speak with patience
or tolerance o. the barren policy of repr sson and
coercion cU.Offfi w MN iINS' al lO'oN "a ''''-
edge when they have examined these memorials
O: his work in Ireland that there WAS no bitter
ness in his hcart-only an ardent desire to do his
duty without fear and without ilinching, and 10
be faithful TO the trust committed 10 him.
Tho education Of the founder OF the English
school system was mcagrc lie WAS the only
son Of two Quaker preachers Of narrow means
living at Bgadpole. Dolsetshirc. His father and
mother alike conducted religious Missions III
America Ireland. and England, but in the inter
vals of preaching with aid from a village tutor
taught the boy well as they could. When
lie was in his fourteenth year he was sent to a
Quaker school at Bristol, and in the following
year he was transferred to similar Institution
~ Tottenham, where he remained until he was
eighteen. University studies were not within his
reach and he was forced 10 make his way in the
world with such slender advantages as a private
school OF that period had to offer His father.
like many men who have voluntarily embraced a
life Of poverty and sclf-sacridce, was anxious t.
have bis son prosper and decided 10 have HIM
enter into business in preference 70 choosing a
profession Mr. Forster after several unfortu-
nate starts became successful manufacturer and
acquired handsome fortune The drudgery Of
a woollen mill did not however, stand in the way
Of brilliant future. which he marked out for
himself during the earliest days Of his business
,pprenticeship lie was eager even at twenty to
fit himself by study and literary practice for
,arecr Of public work lie assisted bis uncle, Sir
rowcn Buxton, a pioneer in abolition and other
eforms, in the compilation Of volume on the J
lave trade Abolition was the first great move
nent which enlisted his sylnpathies; bat as active
ife. as d Bradford merchant. brought him into
on,act with the working classcs, great social
nd political questions pressed upon HIM TO the
xclusion Of philanthropic projects for oppressed
,cgroes in Africa. Every year his ycarnng for
fnolitical career grew stronger His means
nj rht be narrow and the necessity for making
Is OWN way urgent and imperative, but to work ,
or the public good was bis ruling passion and he s
ould not resist it.
Carlylc's writings not only inyigoratcf Mr. j