New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24
"THE AGE OF YOUTH"
FOR COUNSEL AS WELL las FOR ACTION.

statesman the late NJ. jules Ferry, addressed a
few weeks before his death to the Association of
paris Students. when he urged upon them "at all
costs 10 be young" Within the space of the lat
decade, the direction Of the affairs OF the Old
World have passed out Of the hands of the aged
statesmen who had control thereof at the time
Of the Berlin Congress into those of men
quarter of century and even twoscore years
their juniors In Germany 1t is no longer octo-
senaran Prince Bismarck who is at the helm.
but the young and impetuous Emperor William.
In England Lord Rosebcry has taken the place
NJ Mr. Gladstone, who Is almost double his age.
IN France. the white-haired NJ. de Freycnet. the
aged President Grevy and the more than mature
NJ Waddington have been succeeded by such
men as Casimir-Perer. Dupuy and Dtclasse.
who are each younger even than the British
Premier; while President Carnot Is az least twen-
tv-nye or thirty years the junior OF any Of his
three predecessors at the Elysee. In Hungary
that Magyar Gladstone Koloman Tisza. who
.ained the post Of Prime Minister for some six
teen years has retired into private life making
way for the forty-year-old Or. Wekerle, while
at Vienna we find the youthful Prince Win
dischgraetz-who is not yet forty years of age
IN the place Of that playmate and bOyhoOd friend
Of Emperor Francis Joseph. Count Taaffe who
now devotes himself TO hrs tribe Of grandchil-
dren At the Vatican Cardinal Rampolla the
most youthful member Of the Sacred College,
think he is about forty-three-hgures in the role
NJ Pontifcal Secretary Of State. an Office long
held by the late Cardinal Jacobini. a prelate in
Arm with age and malady. In Russia the most
influential and powerful man next the Car Is
no longer old Prince Gortchakoff but the Minis
ter of Finance. the forty-two-year-old NJ. de
Witte. who has worked his way up TO his pres
ha unoll
Of a village railroad station. Most Of the Minis
tors by whom the young King of Portugal has
NOW surrounded himself are his contemporaries
IN point Of age, the political advisers of his
fatber-or. to speak more correctly. Of his moth
or. for II was she who did the regnng-having
been shelved. In Servia the gray-haired Regents
have been sent about their business by the eigh-
teen-year-old King Alexander who inaugurated
his assumption Of executive power by an uncon-
st!tutional coup detat full year previous to the
legal termination of his minority. In Egypt we
have a young and inexperienced Khedive not
vet Of age. who presents in many respects a
striking and Oriental analogy 10 the Servian
ruler being quite presumptuous and lntracta-
bile as the latter From Italy come reports OF the
sudden giving way Of the health. strength and
marvellous vitality Of the septuagenarian Signor
Crspj who will probably be forced to abandon
the Premiership. and in Belgium. NJ. de BuTlet
now exercises power in place Of the veteran NJ.
Baernaert. In short everywhere in Europe
youth has replaced age
We have scarcely had time as yet TO judge
whether or not the world at large has benefited
by the change. and 1t cannot be denied that
there is considerable ground for viewing the fut-
ura with apprehension. For while on the one
hand we may look for the generosity. joyousness
of
teristic of youth in the men now at the head
Of affairs. vet on the other hand they are neces-
sarily deficient in that one most Indispensable
and priceless of all qualities Of true statesman,
exnerience When King Louis XIV Of France
bade adieu TO his grandson on the departure on
the latter from Versailles for Madrid to assume
the crown Of Spain. he exhorted him TO enoeaVor
above everything else TO Give to ripe old age
on tho ground that a sovereign "for the proper
discharge of his duties needed above everything
else long and wide experience" This, ike an
oes,ry. no money can buy, no favor can confer
II can only be acquired after many years anu
sad TO relate the younger generation Is always
reluctant 70 take advantage or or avail l'sell VI
the knowledge thus acquired by its elders. No'
or IN nrvate but also In public life. there Is for
ever a tendency TO look upon the seniors DIS
"vieux leu" as behind the times and out Of date.
on acquiring it's own experience, unfortunately
nat a,wavs atits own cost but as often as not at
The exnanse Of others This is especially the case
with statesmen and people intrusted with the
administration of government. For the mistakes
ami errors into which they led by lack or mat
IRE experience are invariably paid for by those
whose destinies and interests have been coni1ded
TO their control
Most Of these mistakes find expression in indis-
Greet utterances and. indeed one OF the chlei oe-
fects inherent TO youth may be SAID 10 De d iacA
Of the power OF keeping the tongue PropeiS
bridled The knowledge Of the time when 10 re-
main silent is like experience, only acqu'Ieu ny
age. and 1t will be found that considerable poi-
ton OF the harm done In this world Is the result
n, saving that which had far better have been
lof unsaid Silence is in truth the most goioeh Oh
all virtues. and its costly character mas never
been more strikingly illustrated than OUTING INC
last few weeks. where we have seen TWO ihu'V'u-
uas after being practically convicted OF oie.oeS
against the laws OF the land and even asa'"S'
the social code rehabilitated ana restored " '''
former position in the Partisan woriu' iheie'' 0
cause they have known enough to remain sie"'
under great provocation to speak. Both Dr.
Cornelius Herr and NJ. Daniel WILSON, soh-ih-'a"
q, the late President Grevy. are known TO pos
sesS most damaging seSAS'' =,
men prominent In French politics ana hsh III
Office. The reputation Of these personages woulo
have been blasted rretrievably had ether inc
one or the other spoken or made pubic the i@o''
with which they are acquainted. both' HOW
ever. are men Of mature age ana experience
They had the good sense to bide their 'i'"''
They realized that the storm OF popular eNec'"-
,ion WAS too violent TO last long. ana so they
h,ued their heads and waited TIL Il had passed
over But they waited In silence i"e' '0oN
into consideration that some OF the very M"
rhoso das,,r,es they held in their hands were
forced IN, tho character Of their office TO take
conspicuous part in the proceedings against them
and 10 appear in the light Of their prosecutors
and nersecutors. SO they held their peace.
800, Petr a. ,ba reeuit? Here see