New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11
MIR. FROUDE.


MR. LECKY AND MR.. GLADSTONE-HlS
CONVERSATION AND HIS WRIT
TEN STYLE - CARLYLE
ONE LAST WORD.
London. october "a
Froude was something more than the most
accomplished prose writer Of his time. He was a
man Of the world. who lived fun ana various
life There was trace OF the bookworm on
him. nothing of that awkwardness which the
mere student often betrays in the company of
his fellow men and of women. He had the man.
ner of one who had always associated with the
best people: a manner which seldom comes eX-
cept from assocatng with the best peop'e.
though IT may perhaps be inherited If acquired
apttudes can be inherited: point on when the
experts differ He had also the qualities OF de-
cison and Of active life which 10 living in
libraries would ever have brought to him. lie
liked outdoors loved Nature. loved certain OUT
door sports and practised them When he chose
he could be man of affairs, and had practicai
busness-like sagacity which did not fail MN
when the occasion arose. As he had TO deai much
with publishers. this was of use to him. once
asked him how he got on in such matters
"Oh. az first there were difficulties. and pub
rsher as you know. Is not eager 10 give more
than he must for a book But now it is all plain
very we'll When a rev book is TO be bought ont
we both know lust about how much II is worth.
and as they know that know it is easy to come
to terms
His sagacty stood him in equal stead in pupllc
affairs. When Lord Carnarvon sent him to South
Africa. the energetic and ingenious politicians In
that part OF the world found him match for the
hest of them He understood high politics equally
we'll and the true meaning o: that much abused
or rather much misused word. craftsmanship.
Why should ne not? He had to deal with states
men in his books. and 10 pass judgment on their
acts; To grasp great policies. to consider the
causes as well as the Of events. to faihom
motives 20 calculate political forces. Wnether
this kind OF ability be applied to the affairs Of
the nineteenth century of the sixteenth matters
little. The ability required + the same.
He showed singular mastery of the irish
question. or Of Irish questions since the plural
has ALWAYS to be applied to Ireland Into the
merits OF his view. whether OF past history OF
Of present problems will not venture. There are
uucksands on every side. do not forget his
visit to America or the animosities he aroused
there among a portion of her naturalized citi-
xens. and among some who had not taken the
trouble to go through the formalites OF naturaii-
zatlon, or perform their full period OF probation
Let us admit for arguments sake. that he took
the wrong view He took II nevertheless with
consun,mate ability IL ne had not. and If he had
not had behind MIN great and just renown Tor
dealing with such matters. the attack on MN IN
America need never have been so bitter as II
was, nor would Father Burke have invoked the
thunders OF the Church against him.
So OF his book The English in Ireland
There and In his American lectures alike he
spoke as one having authority. Cromwelrs Is
hated name in Ireland. but IL has not occurred
to those who denounce him most saVagely 10 De-
little his genius. never heard OF anybody IN
these days-never since Carlyles book on the
great Protector-who did that except MI. Glad
stone Froude's estimate of Irish history may
bring down upon his head every censnre except
that Of being deficient in largeness of view, and
In the large handling OF the issues with which
he deals Mr. Lecky in the dsproportionate
Irish sections OF his History of England in the
Eighteenth Century permits himself some very
harsh criticisms on Froude. They are conceived
in the Freeman vein, and sometimes almost IN
the Freeman manner. Mr.. Lecky. that is TO say
imputes motives. 1t is not enough for MN mat
Froude is wrong in his facts. he insists that he
was consciously and wilfuy wrong. Censures OF
that sort upon such a writer as Froude lnJure
him who makes them: not HIM TO whom they are
addressed.
1t has. unhappily. been Froude's fate to be IN
the thick of controversies all his life long; reg
ious, political, personal and many more Ills
own share in them has for the most part con-
sisted in stating his own view once for all ana
leaving his enemies without reply. That Is the
method OF a man persuaded that he Is right. and
conscious to say the least. OF right motives lie
answered Freeman once: Lecky think MOI at
g. He had, nevertheless. sensitive nature
Beyond doubt the calumnes heaped on him, ana
perhaps mos, OF all in the Carlyle business ois-
tressed him. But he was not the man 10 ask
sympathy from the public, nor would ne s'oop 10
defend himself against charges which Implied
dishonesty. either personal or literary. He pre-
ferred to suffer in silence.
Nor lid the injustice OF MS critics sour MS
nature To the last he preserved his cheerful
serenity and his faith in human nature lie had
the faith IN others which d man has who knows
his own motives 10 be pure. With all tnat ne
was capable OF revenge. had he cared to take H.
He had power Of retort which his enemies
may thank hm-though they will motor SO
seldom using at their expense. His published
writings do not show the full extent OF 1t, nor
often show II at all. Nor did bis talk. except
with those whom he trusted. But when he chose
he had wit ra:llery. sarcasm. at the service OF MS
censors; wit which cut TO the bone, raiiery
which easily made othcrs ridiculous. and a gift
Of sarcasm which shriveled and blighted it's VIC
tim 1t was intellectual. not vndictlve He saw
the weak points and knew how to lay them bare.
But 4, was done with placid good humor. re-
mote indeed, from anything Ike maleVo.ence.
Almost never. think. did Froude put rorth this
strength OF sarcasm against an Antagonist VINO
soucht to meet him in argument. He argued
but he would not wound | never heard MIN say
a thing meant to give pain. He respected the
.ha
or mon with whom he conversed. He would let
nonsense go unanswered rather than expose the
folly OF the speaker.
IL Was whom he was In conGenla company that