New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-27
AN ENGLISH ORATOR.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL-THE RADICAL
VIEW OF HIM-THE TRUE VIEW OF
HIM-HIs SPEECH AND A FEW
PERSONALITIES TOUCHING HIS u
OLD FRIENDS q,


PERSONALITIES TOUCHING HIS u
OLD FRIENDS %
London. August H.
II is the Radical fashion 10 speak OF the Duhe
OF Argyll II he were survivor Of the pre-
historic period. or OF some legendary period. One
Radical Journal plump!y calls him RIP Van
Wrinkle suddenly awakened TO address the House
Of Lords upon a state OF things which existed q
hundred years ago" The illustration is a little
unlucky because by no stretch Of imagination can
you conceive the possibility Of an Irish Evcted
Tenants bill being proposed by Pitt, or by any
responsible Minister OF those days. Another de-
scrbes him coming TO the consideration Of
this question. like many other members Of
the House OF Lords disqualified by insuperable
prejudice and invncible nescience': adding with
characteristic civiliy THE Duke Of Argyll cannot
see facts. He can only himself and then as
a climax:
Such an exhibition OF colossal vanity ana
apysmal Ignorance has seldom been displayed for
the cynical amusement OF plebeian mankind.
quote these outpourings partly In order to
please those remarkable Americans who like to
sit at the feet OF the English Radical regardless
OF the fact. which perhaps they do not know.
that the English Radical loses opportunity Of
reviling the American admirer and American In
stitutlons II they like 10 accept the Radical es-
innate OF the Duke Of Argyll. there 1t Is. or II
they like to say, as some OF them do In effect say
that a Dixie because he IL Duke must be Q
despicable creature. that line also Is open to
them. H. on the other hand. they think It more
fair and honorable to Judge lifelong friend Of
their own country by his acts and words rather
than by Radical caricatures or vulgar prejudice
they would do we'll to turn to the Duke OF Argyirs
49,
mend II TO them the more confidently because the
subject is which they will be likely TO take
sides against the orator. All Americans being
Home Rulers as we are often reminded. they
will not be misled by political sympathies into
forming too high an estimate OF a British states
man who puts his whole soul into his hostility
to Irish Home Rule All he would ask is 10 be
Judged upon his merits. The one Radical writer
who honestly tries to do that pronounces upon
him condemnation which to an American reads
very like eulogy:
Here you had the old recalcitrant Whig more
yrreconcilable than the Tones themselves. cutting
himself Off from modern Liberalism. standing up
for unrestricted freedom OF contract pure 1aissez
falre' free trade applied TO land. the greatest OF
monopolies. all the old watchwords and parapher-
MALTA OF the ancient Radcalism. crossed with the
prejudices Of the land-owning class.
There is a food OF light on modern English
line drawn by one OF its devotees between 1t and
what he calls the ancient Radicasm; which ID.
in fact some ten years old You see It imputed to
one OF the truest Liberals In England as an
offence. that he clings to the old watchwords Of
Liberalism, Of the real and true Liberalism with
which all good Americans once sympathized. and
some do still sympathize. 1t is an offence that an
English Free Trader should believe In Free Trade
nliad 20 lor In of hat ho
should own land. or that anybody should. The
"prejudices Of the land-owning class are held
up to contempt. The land-owning class IL In
America. I suppose. the largest ciass-certainly
a great and powerful class. II the farmers OF
America are so odious to the English Radical.
who of us can hope to escape his animosityf
Finally, you see the old Liberal pilloried because
he stands up for freedom Of contract--that II
evidently the worst offence Of all. OF course. Il
Is a Coectivist VINO chooses this novel form OF
invective. The individualist Is to him an object
Of loathing. Is that also American view?
hope not.
The Duke OF Argyll Is no longer the prominent
figure he once was In public life. He II not In
Office He resigned Office rather than renounce
his principles. That also may be old-fashioned.
He does not speak very often In the House OF
Lords or elsewhere. II has been said Of late that
age had tanned the fire Of his eloquence. There
Is no sign Of tameness In this speech. nor OF the
least decay Of mental faculties. Why should
there be? The Duke Is venty-one-thirteen
years younger than his friend and former chief.
Mr.. Gladstone. It IL no very remarkable age In
English public life. Moreover. he has kept HIM
self young by a constan. exercise OK the intel
lectual powers. Once 1t was medical theory that
the use Of the brain wore out the body. II Is .
theory no longer.-at least 1t Is not held by some
Of the most eminent medical men In England.
Work Is q tonic" said one OF the best OF them.
meaning brain work. and imagine most men
whose minds are not enfeebled find 1t so;-work.
but not overwork. The Duke has great range
science. metaphysics. theology. literature. all
subjects requiring more power Of mind than mere
politics. His voice. perhaps IL not what II was;
In other respects he is still the orator and states
man who for a quarter OF a century at least
has been in the very front rank OF English
orators and statesmen. Nor has he lost tins
lighter qualities of oratory. His speech sparkes
with epigram. He Is pungent as ever. with all
the old piquancy and picturesqueness Of dIction
Nor does he forget his old friends who have be-
come his political opponents. Between him and
Lord Rosebery there Is a kind Of vendetta,-po-
lltcaI. OF course but carried on. rule, with
out much mercy on the side or the other.
Neither Is the man TO give or expect quarter.
The Duke turns upon the Prime Minister, the
head OF the Government-"or who Is called the
head OF the Government" The thrust Is a keen
one II you bear In mind all that has been SAID
for months past Of the waning authority OF Lord
Rosebery and of the growing authority OF SIP
william Harcourt. Mistakenly said though II Do
and think the mistake will soon De seem"
gives a fair occasion for the Dukes taunt. Theu
he goes on
II was a trivial circumstance for the Prime
Minister Of England TO refer TO. but II he wishes
10 know why sit here on the Opposition side
OF the House. I will tell him. sit on this bench
because opened my career In this House on that
bench In the year In which he was born: and dur
ing the time ne was passing from his long
clothes to his smaIlclothes sat upon that bench
in company with men whom / loved and have
lost and I never expect to be associated with