New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-14

touch OF greatness which marks leader OF
men, Instead Of this he had a charm which ne
exerted to the utmost, and in the light or when
the less engaging facets Of his career take on
something Of that softening tone of which MT
Rae is peculiarly fond Great dignity ne ma!
have lacked profound substance, the influence OF
a high and ndomitable ambition he may nave
been without from the beginning to the close
of his career But he was unquestonably man
n int crest and ia scinate his interlocutor. Mr.
Rae quotes from Sir Nathaniel Wraxall passage
on Sheridan's exploits in the House, which may
be applied to all the activities of his nature
''At this period OF his life when he was not more
than thirty-three years Of age. his countenahce
and features had in them something peculiarly
pleasing, indicative at once of intellect, humor
and gayety. All these characteristics played ABOUT
his lips when speaking, and operated with in
conceivable attraction. for they anticipated, as
it were, to the eye the effect produced by his
oratory on the ear thus opening for him sure
way to the heart or the understanding. Even the
tones in his voice. which We're singuarly melli-
fiuous aided the general effect of his eloquence
nor vas II accompanied by Burke's unpleasant
Irish accent. Pitts enunciatOn was unqueston-
ably more imposing. digniied and sonorous. Fox
displayed more fancy and enthusiasm; Dut ohel-
idan won his way by sort of fascination
The foregoing extract applies, as has been
said, to much more than Sheridans eioquehce'
1t indicates his hold on politics In general HIS
emincnce in the society OF London, his SUCCESS
as theatrical manager The record OF MS
Parliamentary experience, though clsunsuisfieu
by few signal episodes as the inefectuai Out
brilliant address In the Warren Hastings anair
and his expeditions services in the matter OF the
mut!ny at the More. though full of clever In
tr,gue ard shrewd cooperation with the other
leaders Of his party. is not made memorable by
a single achievement of magnitude. Mr.. Rae
thinks his opportunities came to MIN ha''''ou IA
advance and that the conditions were uniformly
charged with ill-uck. 1t must be admitted ''"'
when he identified himself with the coah'ioi'
Ministry of Fox, North and the Duke OF for'-
land he took an unlucky step; and ii might nave
been better for him If subsequently ne had pse"
for Pitt instead of against him. But surmises as
N what a statesman might have done II events
had been otherwise are Of all Improbable things
the most unavoidable The best will in the world
carrot enable IN impartial admirer OF ohe'l-
dan IN escape the conviction that he won his
vvav not through transcendent services to his
country but "by eort Of fascinat ton lie Wis
eloauent and he was honest 10 the point Oh
naivete He might have made money III cas's
where he chose to scorn self-aggNnGlzeheh''
Uo was Of good service 20 his country. There
the account ends, end l. leaves him among the
minor men. That Is why II has been easy 10
n,isrenresent him. Great men may be Vlllilfd
bevond all measure. but their greatness eurvlv's
MS the mountain tops rear themselves above inc
fiercest storms. unhurt Lesser men, eood as
they NAV be. a-e soon buried beneath whatever
Nc steritv chooses t. ling upon their graves
rhue Mr. Rae carefully eucidatrs the facts OF
lis hero's career tracing his footsteps one by
cre correcting the errors OF predecessors ana
ehar,ling their bad faith uncovers at last. ana az
fuu length an image which can be regarded
with interest. with admiration. but not with un-
boun led admiration or serene approval Ihere
vas LOYALTY for example. in Sheridans relations
with the Prince Regent; but II there Was not
eyconhancv as VII ii was because the name
vos not in use Just then. II II was ne nat
t.re1 himself that he abhorred IL with the rest
cf .he world No mere righteousness OF char-
acter can explain away his corstahcy 70 one OF
the manliest Of men. II Sheridan thought
that he was doing right in linking his fortunes
with those Of the dissOutc Prince then ne haa
,ot the knowledge Of human nature for when
admirers Of his plays would give him credit II
bo know the worth Of the Prince, and went on
Hiding that sort Of thing II IS simply 70 be said
that the friendship was on level In us nore'
with sherldan's courtship OF Miss Lnley.