New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-27
LORD BEACONSFIELD.
ii.
FURTHER TRAITS OF HIS CHARACTER AS
SEEN BY SIR WILLIAM FRASER
AND OTHERS.
London. Nav IA,

AND OTHERS.
London, May IA,
An American friend told me yesterday that
there is in America body Of opinion hostile TO
Lord Beaconsiield, and that most Of those who
are not hostile are Indifferent. We don't like
Jews continued he, and of all Jews who have
a great public name we most abhor DisraelL'
That is discouragng account Of the matter
when one is trying TO interest people is new
book about this abhorred Hebrew. l hope it n
overstated | think I'VE might, at any rate, re-
member that the Hebrew stood our friend when
,be Christian declared that Jefferson Davis had
made nation We owe it, humanity speaking, to
Disraeli that France and England did not recog-
nize the Confederacy in the first or second year
of the Rebellion. Gratitude may not be OF much
avail but il may be Of some. 1here Is none In
Republics says the monarchist, and II the Re
publican looks f6r it where sovereign bears
sway. he is met by the spectacle OF the Emperor
William dismissng his great Minister with insult,
and Of Ireland who seems ready 10 disown the
loader who has done more than all other living
Irishmcn together for what is called the irsh
cause. But will nevertheless finish wna' mao
to say about Lord Beaconsiield.
He becomes, in truth, greater figure as no
recedes into the distance. II this be violation
OF optical laws it is in strict accord with those
OF the moral world. While he was still close TO
lis the ewes of those who beheld him were 100
often fixed on trivial peculiarites; on his waist-
coats and watch chains; on his cured ana dyed
locks and the tuft Of hair be wore on MS chin'
ON tricks of manner and tricks Of mind on many
things which were incidental ana not essential
He was not an Englishman, and ne governed tne
English Empire by methods OF which some "ere
olien IN English habits. But he governed IT, ana
IL is now seen that his conduct OF affairs, though
not always WISE had in it much OF that true
statesmanlize quality which in the long run atones
for many mistakes To rule great Emp're by
help of maxims diligently culled out OF ola copy
books, was not his conception Oh I'M
nerial duty. He had far-reaching views ana
very remarkable and useful power OF seeing
things as they were, and not merely as ne wouio
lilo them 70 be- or as he believed they ought TO
be.
Certainly he often saw deeper than most OF
those about him. His could not be common
Mace mind who described England as great
Mohammedan Power. His Orientalism, which was
both conscious and unconscious gave him point
of view to which the mere islander seldom attains.
He had the old traditions and he had meditated
deenlv uuon them II was his mission, probably
not one really congenial TO him, TO help tranS-
form this country into Democracy. He, DORM
plebeian. remained an Aristocrat during the pro-
cess He cherished the aristocratic theories ana
practices of rule. Perhaps he cared more ior iol-
eign policy than for domestic. Some Oh Ills great
est achievements had to do with foreign poncy'
and there il was that his broad grasp Of ideas was
seen to best advantage. With the details OF
Diplomacy he never cared TO acqualnt himself,
any more than with the details OF departmental
work. Yet, when he found himself In contac'
and in collision with the most experienced diplo'
matists of the continent, he was their equal In
the conduct of business. People said he would
break down at Berlin. He did not break down.
He knew what he wanted and how to get it, His
strategy was Of the first order; or of almost the
first. His midnight order for special train TO
take him home was as good stroke as Meter
mich or Talleyrand could have conceived. 1t con-
WINGED Prince Bismarck that the English Prime
Minister was in earnest, and then for the hrso
time he told Schouvaloff he would have 70 give
way and so il was that the Treaty OF San otefano
became the Treaty of Berlin. He understood with
eyactness the men with whom he had to deal
and how to impress his will upon them. Had he
said, as Mr.. Adams said TO Lord John RUSSELL
This means war;" the Russian would not have
believed him. Mr.. Adams's method sufced for
the blunt-minded Englshman whom he had to
coerce. and did coerce h would not have
cess sprang from his clear perception OF what
would and what would not answer with each
adversary In that lay perhaps his chief superior
ity over Mr. Gladstone, who has never understood
men.
A very positive account is given in this little
book of the myth about Endymion,' which
Disraels eulogists reproduce as an answer TO what
is said about him in Mugray's Memoirs; or rather
TO what the Gladstonian says about what Mur-
raw saws different matter. This is Sir Willlamt
story:
Il know what few know in relation TO hn
conduct in the matter of his latest publications
For 'Lothair he had received very large sum-
and he received also a large sum for 'Eadymlon.
'Endymion' was financial failure. He called
upon the publisher, and offered 10 refund wnaE
ever part of the purchase-money he would con-
slider just. The publisher, in an equally honor
able spirit, refused TO receive anything IN pay
ment. One thousand pounds was offered Tor al
advance copy Of 'Endymion' the day before pup
lication, and refused
Well, do not wish to rival our anecdotst In
positiveness, but l think j know the real iacis'
Lord Beaconsfeld offered Endymlon' TO Messis'
Longmans for fifty thousand dollars. II was 70
take or to leave. They took 1t. Inc
book hung fire. Undoubtedly the story as toia
by Sir William Fraser was long current IN LONDON
The first contradiction Of il | ever heard OF was
a sufficiently cynical one. Nobody" said a wen-
known wit, "who had much ACQUAINTANCE WIN
! Dizzy would believe he ever offered to retund'
nobody who knew Longmon would believe ne It.
| fused" But there was no occasion for oner VI
refusal There was time when MesSrS Long
man doubted whether they should get their money
back But they said one day TO a friend who Is
| my authority. Ii has been q little slow, but we
have just turned the corner. Our 'Endymlon ac-
count rather more than balances" Later the sum
left in the publishers Golfers was, think, sum
Gent reward for their trouble and anxiety, II
| anxiety there had been.