Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-25
YOUNG MEN IN AMERICA.
An interesting Contrast With Their
Lot in England.

-
The curious little struggle that is go
ing on in the house of commons at
this moment is only one of many indi-
cations of new idea that is COM
ing into our whole life in this coun-
try, says an English paper. The
army bill and Mr.. Brodrick are the
nominal subjects of dispute between
the ministry and the members of the
fourth party; but the real point at is
sue is the conflict which is so frequent
~ waged between youth and age. In
every house of commons l have seen
there is the same struggle. There is
always the old gang" which has sue
ceeded, which has got all the good
places, and which intends to hold them
to the end of the chapter. 1t was so in
the parliament of the SOS. Sir Stat
ford Northcote, afterward the Earl OF
Iddesleigh, was then the leader of the
opposition. He was a man of great
scholarship. of ripe experience, of good
judgment, but he was a poor speaker.
He had no pushfulness; he was sim
ply nice, gentle, genial man, who had
no fight in him and no power of inspir
ing fight in others.
in the very plenitude of all his great
lower: and when poor Sir Stafford
Northcote had made his feeble little
urotest, up got Gladstone and delivered
on him a series OF smashing blows; the
fiery black eyes flashing in Indignation
ard scorn, the corious gestures, all the
huge mental and physical forces that
lay behind the personality of the eX-
traordinary mana steam engine in
breeches," to use an American phrase
were brought to bear upon the quiet
timld, shrinking gentleman opposite,
until really after while, Mr.. Glad
stone appeared to be smashing the OPP
position leader into pulp. This was
the moment when Lord Randolph
Churchill came to the front. He was
kept back. of course; he was some
times even attacked; he always eX-
cited something like scandal on his
own side; but he was resolved to be
rid of the "old gang" and he fought for
five years, until he succeeded in doing
So and thus created for conservatism
q new life. a new force-gaVe 1t an I'M
pulse on which it is to certain extent
living even today, years after Lord
Randolph fell down into the grave,
beaten and broken hearted.
There is an old gang once more in
the house of commons, and the young
arc Knocking at the gate and demand
ing that it should give place to the
next generation. Whether TINS new
movement will succeed or not, 1t IS
premature to say. It is certain that
there is an uneasy feeling everywhere
that a big change is wanted in all our
administration. and that until young
men are called upon to make thls
charge we shall go in the bad Old way
viii. \ brought so many idols to dis
laster. III
However. it is not with tn" struggle
Ibetvs sen youth and age in the mouse o1
tton51ons that I am mainly concerned L
itoday: it is a dangerous subject, any
how in the columns of a social news
nor - and enc is liable to be misunder-
stoc !. I was thinking OF that strusse
over a far wider range or social ms
The other day found as my companion
in :, railway journey young ensi
He rad spent. good number OF ms no.
yer, numerous years in America, ana
he ,,ad realized the spirit of that couh-
| fry IN the course of the conVersatioH'
in which he spoke frankly OF ms sue
ces- es and his failures, OF MS uliiicu'
tiee and of his friendships ne n.aue
tho observation that the greatest OF an
hie obstacles here in England Wouio
bo,,a bean +he greatest of all MS
recor men dations in America, ana that
was his youth. His youth ne iooiio