The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-03

thies. his views. his policy. were all those Of
the middle classes. BY strange accident he
became the loader Of the nobility: but they
supported him on their necks. for his foot was
there. He considered the peers as his election
agents: therefore the moro tho better. They
were the puppets through which he conducted
the administration OF the country. hut he
scorned them and snubbsd them and flooded
their blue blood with plentiful adulterntion
Of an inferior element. In q word. Pitt and the
nristocracy had not an idea or sentiment in
common: his attitude to them resemblod the
earlier relations OF Lord Beaconsfeld to the
magnatos OF his party.
As regards Pitts view OF the French revolu-
ton and the consequent change in his attitude
toward English reform. Lord Rosebery quotes.
with approval Windhnm's saying that tits i'm
possible to repair ones house In the hurricane
season." But whether or not Pitt was right in
his forecast OF tho French revolution. aud In his
refusal to accept 1t as a boon for country under
different conditions. we are eminded that Pitts
repressive measures were BY no means spon-
tancous. but founded on tho solemn. anxious
inquisitjon and report Of Parliament itself.
II was not Pitt who inspired tho course OF tho
House Of Commons toward the French revolu-
tlonists and their sym pathizers in Great Brit
ain: 1t was Parliament that instructed tho Ex-
ecutive and dictated its repressive acts.
Tho attempt to form final estimate OF
Pitts craftsmanship leads LORD Rosebery to
compare him with his father. and tho result
ant parallel is tho most striking thing in tho
book. Not only were Lord Chatham and
William Pitt, the younger. father and son-not
only we're they tho most conspicuous Minis
tiers Of the eighteenth century but their char
actors illustrate zach other Yet In some par
ticulars 1t Is impossible for mon to be more
different. Pitt was endowed with mental
powers OF tho first order: his readiness. his
apprehension. his resource were extrsordi-
nary: tho daily Parliamentary drain upon
his brain and nerve power he met with serene
and inexhaustble afluence His industry and
administrative activity we're unrivalled: was
perhaps impossible to carry the forco Of sheer
ability further: he was portent. Chatham
In most Of these respects was inferior to his
son. He was political mystic: sometimes
sublime. sometimes impossible. and some
times insane. But he had genius. That
flame Il was. fltful and undefinable
though 1t be. that gave to his eloquence a SUBJ
lime and terrible note which no other English
eloquence has touched; that made him the
idol OF his countrymen. though they could
scarcely be said to have seen his face or heard
his voice: that made him q watchword among
those distant American insurgents. whose
wish for independence he yet ardcntly op-
posed: that made each remotest soldier and
bluejacket feel that when he was in Office
there was man in Downing street. and man
whose eye pierced everywhere: that made his
name at once an inspiration and dread: that
cowed even the tumultuous Commons at his
frown. Each Pitt possessed in an eminent de-
gree tho qualities which the other most lacked:
one was formed by nature for peace. the other
for war. Chatham could not have filed Pitts
place in the ten years which followed 1888.
but from the time when war against France
was declared tho guidance OF Chatham would
have been worth an army"
1t Is not. OF course. claimed by Lord Rose
berry that Pitt was perfect character or per-
feet statesman. He made mistakes. but 1t
would be difficult to designate any act Of his
career which could not at the time be justified
by solid II not convincing reasons. 1t may also
be said that though Pitt generally saw what
was right. he did not always do it. What
Minister CAM The utmost that any can ac-
complish is not the best. but the nearest prac-
borne in mind that no one questioned his
honesty. doubted his capacity. or impeached
his aims. He had. rs Canning said. qualities
rare in their separate excellence and wonder
full in their condemnation. These qualities.
moreover. were inspired by single unswerv-
ing purpose. II am no worshipper Of Mr..
Pitt" said Wherefore in the House OF Com
mons long after the death Of the great Minis
ter. but II know anything OF that great man
am sure Of this. that every other considera-
tion was absorbed in one great, ruling passion
the love OF his country" N. W. H.