New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-02

better protection Of labor especially in the fact
cries the repeal Of the Corn Laws, the amcliora
ton Of the criminal code. the abolition of trans
portation, the extension Of constitutional govern
mcnt to the colonies. From the first his atti-
tdde toward Ireland at least generation III
advance OF his contemporaries. lie was almost
alone in condcmning the unjust and irritating
policy Of tithcs in that country lie proposed 70
put the Roman Catholic Church on the establish
mcnt. lie welcomed the disestabishment OF the
Irish Church lie increased, when Minister. the
grant to Maynooth. lie gave Ireland the best
Secretary lDrummond) and tile best Viceroy Mul-
grave she had ever had. lie was firm oppo
rent of all policies of coercion. When, after the
famine OF 1916. Clarendon begging for dis
arrnnnlrnt suspension of llabeas Corpus. right
of search and finally martial law, Lord John
steadily refused to sanction these proposals, and
soucht on his own side to meet the increasing
evils of the situation by dealing with the root
causes.
When Italy awoke from her long trance and
hcran TO ngtatc for freedom, Lord Johns
sympathies went out to the struggling people
most heartily, and from that day until the long
effort was crowned with success, whatever lay in
his power either as Premier member of the
Government in charge Of a department. was done
for the Italian people. This is noble page iii
his record, and Mr. Walpolc has been prevented
by the cxigencies of space from doing full Justice
to it, though he has preserved every material fact
II often happened that even when he was Prime
Minister he had his hand forced. however. and
the history of his difficulties with Palmcrston is in
point. OF course it is familiar fact that Old
Pam as he used TO be called, was by no means
a docile member Of any Cabinet. and that he had
n peculiarly dangerous habit Of sending OH I'M
portant dispatches without consulting either The
Queen or his official superior. The story of the
Coup u Fiat has been often told On that occa-
sion the audacous Foreign Secretary took II upon
himself 10 approve Louis Napolcons crime. with
out consulting anybody, and when rcbukcd by both
the Queen and the Premier. he actually repeated
his act Of nsubordination in public dispatch TO
the British Ambassador at Paris That was too
much. and Lord John had to demand his rcsiGna-
ton; but he was soon back again, and he had
learned very little restraint from his notifying
experience Lord John was commonly in accord with
Palme,stons foreign policy, but the Qdccn was
sometimes at variance with both Of them. though
as constitutional sovereign she yielded her per
sonal opinions Especially this the case in
the Italian matter. Tie sympathics Of the Queen
were evidently German. She was on the sid, of
Austria, and diskcd Victor Emmanuel and Cavonr.
so feeling, the course OF events must have mad
John Russell never swervcd hairs breadth from
the liberal policy he had decided upon lest he
might wound the sensbIties Of his royal mistress.
and she was magnanimous enough To respect his
sturdy mnnlincss.
One of the hardest trins Lord John encountered
was the war crisis Of the Aberdeen Administration,
and Mr.. Wapalc shows clearly and telllnsly the
evaporation, confusion and general paralysis
which grew out OF tie cross purposes existing
in the Cabinet at that time.
Mr. Walpolc's chapter upon the American War
is chiefly Of interest on account OF a new state
ncnt regarding Tic escape Of the Alabama from
an English port. According 10 this statement
she would not have got away but Tor an accident
which caused delay in the report OF the Crown
lawyers upon the legal questions submitted TO
them by Lord John Russell. The lawyer to whom
these questions sent, ii Is alleged, was at
the time seriously i'll. and the Minister was un-
aware Of his illness. \ delay resulted. which
caused suspension of action al the critical moment.
and though when the Government advised
that the vessel ought 20 be detained, active meas
urcs were undertaken 10 intercept her, it then
too late to repair the blundcr. Lord John Rus
sell was n consistent opponent of Southern rccog-
milton, though he found it impossible. In his
position 10 admit all Mr. Stewards claims in
lailon TO the duties Of neutrals Subsequently
he opposed the reference OF the Alabama claims
to arbitration, and tally TIE indirect claims.
hut he chccriully accepted the final award OF the
Commission
As leader in the House Of Commons Lord John
Russell achieved high standing. and this despite
tie complaint Of his coldncss and haughtincss
TO his followers. He was anotl-,r Example Of
triumph over physical infrmities Iaslynicant
in appearance. thin and weak OF vocr hc never
thcless won the reputation OF the best d'batcr In
tie House. lie orator. but an effective
speaker Tie sancst comDon-scns' marked all his
speeches; they LUMINOSITY clear Us to state
mcnt, moderate nnd concilatory In tone. and In
fused by dignity and loftncss Of character which,
causcd it 70 be said that wherever Lord JohT
spoke lie elevated the tone Of the debate. In do
nestle life he appeared 70 great advantage, and by
lis cheerful gayety, unlailing good temper. kocn
delight in the pursuits ard pleasures Of the young.
courtesy and consideration for ALL and selfab-
ncga'on, made himself beloved aud co,ccmcd.
He was always comparatively poor. and once told
a House Committee that he had never been in
debt until lie became Prime Minister. High oil
flee brought him into financial embarrassment, for
he never made anything ont OF il. and in the
Aberdeen Administration by clccting Ia serve
leader OF the House OF Commons without any
Office he cut himself OF from all remuneration
40 a time when he could ill afford the sacrifice.
Few men have been violently attacked by
the press Perhaps most OF his contemporaries
knew him best by Doyle caricaturcS In Punch
But the people soon came to understand aud 10
admire him, and 10 tic last they retained these
sentiments. He was essentially an English states
man, with oil the courage and much more than
Tie Judgment Of of Palmcrston. His confidence
in himself 40 doubt great but ii rested
ultimately upon his belief in his cause Sydney
Smith cs,d 20 say that he never expected 10 con-
vince Johnny Russell OF anything. and he was
held 10 be stubborn by many Others Yet it was
by his liTmress and decision OF character that he
accomplished much and if, as inevitable. he
sometimes made Mistakes far oftcncr than not
he was right and his critics were wrong We