New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-07
NOTES ON BOOKS.
MIR. GLADSTONES SPEECHES.
MIR. W. f. HENLEY AND Mr.. FRANK HARRra.
"A YELLOW AsTER" AND THE EDITIONS

"A YELLOW ASTER' AND THE 'DDITIONS'
OF THAT BOOK.
London, February q
The publication OF Mr.. Gladsrone's speeches ad.
vances slowly perhaps because 1t advances back.
ward. in testimony to his Interest in the Irish
cause. The tenth volume came out last year;
interesting, but not good specimen OF book.
making. People who borrowed it from the cr.
culating library did not mind. The buyers Of
the volume thought it but shabby. 1t was
avowedly meant political pamphlet. The
speeches which had to do with Home Rule were
issued first in order that they might In this form
have an influence on the course OF events. Il
was desired that they should appear while the
issue was a live issue. That meant, to Mr..
Gladstone's mind. before Home Rule had become
an accomplished fact. Where is Home Rule
now? Alive. no doubt, in one sense but in q
state OF suspended animation. The bill OF last
wear. like the bill Of 1886 is dead bill, and
there is to be no new bill this year. Yet here
IS a new volume covering the period which In.
cludes the years 1SS6-issS with eighteen speeches.
of which twelve are devoted to the Irish
question.
The time is i'll chosen for the appearance Of
such volume, but it is necessary to get
with the series and this is but the second OF
is to consist In Mr.. Gadstone's view, all times
and all seasons are opportune for Home Rule.
Whether he is still as sanguine OF passing a
measure OF this kind he was last year know
not Probably he is. He knows. at any rate.
and his colleagues know that the Irish vote Is
not to be had at any other price. The Irish
members acquiesce in the postponement or the
question for the present because they cannot
help themselves Their time will come when the
next general election comes. Then they can
name their own price. Meanwhile, they may
find comfort in the republication OF these
speeches.
Whether they will be much read is perhaps
doubtful. The English mind considers itself
pretty we'll saturated with literature on this
subject Nor is Mr. Gladstone ever so good in
the reading as in the hearing. The voice, the
eye, the gesture. the sympathetic personality.
the manner, the impression of immense and in
exhaustible energy the air Of authority. the
sense of elevation due. in a measure. think, %
the presence as we'll as to the intellectual and
moral range Of the orator-all these are want
ing l have always thought that great part
Of Mr. Gladstone's fame orator would
rest on tradition, and on the records OF the Inn
pressions Of those who have heard him at his
best, and heard him often. His copiousnesA
which is perhaps a merit when he is on his
feet is burden when he is in hand.
1t has been alleged that Mr.. W. f. Henley was
about to retire from the editorship Of the ma.
tional Observer" and that Mr.. Frank Harris
would become the editor OF that paper. Mr.. Hen
ley denies the report with his usual peremPory
brusqueness OF speech. I should be sorry If 1t
were true; not because Mr.. Frank Harris might
not make this Anglo-Scotch weekly a greater
success than il has yet become. Mr.. Harris has
the credit of having set The Fortnightly Re-
view on its legs; a more difficult task, per-
haps, than to do the same good Office for the
rather rickety bantng OF Mr.. Henley. Mr..
Harris, in other words has made The Fort
nightly" which. in point Of ability and char
acter stood high under Mr. Anthony Trollops
and higher still under Mr.. John Morley. q
financial success. He has made it pay. stin
maintaining a high character for the Review"
and making 1t more various, versatile and
popular.
Mr. Henley has not, think. done quite 50
much for The National Observer" OF which he
has now had charge for some years But year
is a short time in the life of a periodical, suppos-
ing 1t to attain a solid and permanent foothold.
Mr.. Henley Is rather man OF letters than
journalist There Is no incompatibility in the
two characters. let Mr. Bruneti6re say what he
will. But should be sorry II Mr.. Henley sur
rendered his editorial chair, because he has SO
much vigor and ability that. give him time and
he will probably learn his trade Of journalism.
AT present he is an amateur. The efforts OF
the amateur are instructive TO the looker-on, but
seldom entirely profitable TO himself or 10 the
owner Of the paper on which his energies are
expended. lie is apt to edit with too exclusive
reference TO his own personal sentiments, and
not sufficiently to consider circumstances and the
exigencies of the situation in which he finds
himself. lie must have constituency II his
journal is 10 pay, and he cannot have lasting
constituency and a steady support from them
II he continually neglects them. or takes no ac-
count OF their existence or OF their opinions
and wishes.
Mr.. Heney's attitude is little too much that
OF Pope. and of a Pope who should consider
his individual inspirations and impulses more
valid than the dogmas of the Church Of which
he is. for the time being. the head. Now IL Is
true that many readers like to have their
opinions supplied. week by week ready made
but they nevertheless like TO be suffered TO
imagine that they have a liberty Of choice and
that they may either accept or reject these
opinions. seems GOOD unto themselves Mr..
Henley never permits them to indulge in that
pleasing illusion. He is perfectly that he
is right. and that everybody who does not agree
with him is wrong. He says so in effect. II not
in terms. He forces his dogmas down the
threats Of his readers. whether they will or no.
He is, | believe. scholar. and has
with other tongues than the Eng
lish: or than the Scottish. which is a language
remote from the English But he
does not know the meaning OF "suaviter in
modo." That hackneyed phrase is strange 20
him. He hot only has rough side 10 his
tongue but he prefers the rough 10 the
smooth. and uses it continually. He has not
learned the lesson of moderation in speech, or
of what Emerson used 10 call the force OF under
statement. | imagine he would refuse 10 allow
Emerson TO be quoted teacher or perhaps
even as an author Emerson was an Ameri-