New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
LORD PALMERSTON.
A BOOK BY THE MARQUIS OF LOENE.
vISCOUNT PALMERGTON, X. G.. BY the Marquis OF
torDe, X. T. Emo, PIP. oio. Harper Brothers.

ston for the series called The Queens Prime Min
istes," the Marquis Of Lorne must have quickly
perceived the wisdom Of avoiding comparison with
the elaborate biographies of Lord Delling and Mr.
Evelyn Ashley; and he appears to have chosen his
plan wisely in deciding TO keep himself in the back
ground as much as possible, and 10 make Lord
Palmerston tell his own story by freely employing
the letters speeches. and memoranda of his subject.
Special interest also attained by this method,
for the author has had access TO large mass of
unpublished material, land some of the letters
quoted, and almost all the long comments and
criticisms upon public affairs from the pen OF
Palmerston. appear in print for the first time IN
these pages" The result is that the sketch shows
but little Of the author but great deal of Palmer
ston; and that nearly everything concerning the
latter is specially trustworthy evidence. inasmuch
it is his work There is indeed, little in the
volume to affect materially the estimate of Palmer
ston now generally held. but the tendency of the
new material is TO exhibit him in. perhaps. more
serious light than that in which his own genera
ton was inclined to regard him, and also to
emphasize the already established opinion OF his
manliness patriotism and interchangeable industry.
The Marquis OF Lorne laborS under no illusions
respecting Palmerston's place among English states
men. He says: "Palmerston emphatically
painstaking. but he not genius whose work
may be manifold, out whose career is seldom
steady. Genius is more apt TO give trouble to
others than to take pains itself. Palmerston had
a good head, good health, which is seldom found
with genius and a matter-of-fact way Of going
ahead, making his experience of one matter the
solid step from which to Judge of the next that
came before him &. &. A plain Englishman, with
many an Englishman's want Of the feminine at
tributes Of character This is candid and, on
the whole; an accurate estimate so far as it goes.
OF course it is but partial. PameHton was
very hard and conscientious worker He mastered
the politics of Europe as perhaps no Englishman
of his time had done. He came to be depended
upon for the management of foreign affairs, and
no doubt the knowledge Of this tended to develop
that unwarrantable independence in the exercise
of his functions as Foreign Minister which so irri-
tated Lord John Russell upon one occasion as to
lead 10 the abrupt dismissal of the selfwilled Min
lister Of Foreign Affairs. lie did, indeed, go
very far In the assertion of his rights. Neither
the Queen nor Prince Albert were permitted to
alter his dispatches. Several times they made
changes, but it always turned out that
Palmerston had ignored these notifications and
sent the dispatches as they were originally written
The really surprising circumstance is that his chief
and the Queen should have endured this so long
as they did. Doubtless the explanation is that
they could not dispense with the wide knowledge
of foreign affairs possessed by Palmerston, though
at last he overseppcd the limits Of liberation and
had to take his punishment
The claim to be considered statesman has
sometimes been refused to Lord Palmerston; but
II he is to be ruled out, great many men will
certainly have to go with him. On the Continent
for many years he was both hated and fe1red
There can be no question that he raised the pres
tige Of England abroad and that he did IL by
methods which could not but popularize him with
his own countrymen The chief ground of this
popularity is clearly shown in the Don Pacifco
speech Of 1850, wherein he vindcated his foreign
policy, He concluded this, his best speech, in the
following words I therefore fearessly challenge
the verdict which this House, as representing q
political, commercial, constitutional country,
is to give on the question now brought before it
whether the principles on which the foreign policy
Of Her Majestys Government has been conducted,
and the sense of duty which has led us TO think
ourselves bound to afford protection to our fellow
subjects abroad, are proper and fitting guides for
those who are charged with the government of
England and whether, as the Roman in days Of
old held himself free from ndgnity when he could
say, "Civis Romanus sum-" also a British
subject, In whatever land he may be,
shall feel confident that the watchful
eye and the strong arm of England will protect him
against injustice and wrong This line of arg,i-
ment impressed the House greatly the proof Of this
being that although opposed by Sir Robert Peel
and Mr.. Disrae and by Mr.. Gladstone in one of
The ablest speeches that great orator delivered
'Civis Ronanus sum- trumphed, and lord
Pamerston secured ma iority Of fifty-sx and made
long stride toward that legitimate goal of states
mans ambition, the Premiership OF England"
This was the policy which made Palmerston
strong with the people, it must always do in any
country Of freemen who cherish national pride In
his foreign relations the Minister sometimes
assumed far too naughty and peremptory, not
to say belcose tone, and thus created ll-feeling
and needless friction. lie was certainly not Il |
delicate diplomatist, but rather one OF the old |
coarse, rough-and-ready school, AS the Marquis |
OF iIorne observes he wanted the feminine attri-
butes Of character and consequently was deficient
In sweetness and light. Nor was he profound and
farseeing. The problems of the hour were enough !
for him. He left the future to those who should
succeed him. But he was not in any sense boorisl |
Personally Palmerston was polished gentleman,
genial kindly, and wearing at all times a manner
which can only be called jaunty. Those who re-
member "Punch's" way of presenting odd Pam
may be interested in knowing that those pictures
were recognized wonderfully faithful portraits
lie was always shown wearing straw or a flower
In his mouth and looking particularly "horsey = |
and the Marquis of Lorne says he certainly
had very horsey' appearance He was |
almost to the last very careful about his dress |
and the neatness and completeness of his costume
may be said to have symbolized the method and
regularity of his ways generally.
The various memoranda published in this vol |
ume. in which Palmerston sets forth his ideas Of |
the European situation Of several critical junct-
ures, exhibit great deal of sagacity prescience |
and sane judgment. The same may be said Of
his letters. There is nothing extravagant, moth
ing Chauvinistic. about them. No man perceived |
more clearly the military weakness of England.
or more wisely took it into account as vital |
factor in the European situation. The |
notion that he was trivial or frv-
olous IS secuted by the author. "In |
Palmerston's views of the service he owed to