The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

allotted to a discussion OF the uoLuoohc
LEGISLATION achieved or projected, which Is
associated with the name Of Chatham's
extraordinary son-mdonO pdire fLus meltor
and the second 10 a commentary on his
foreign policy. which, however wisely oon-
oalved was not to know fruiuon In his life
time. Perhaps no recent English states
man has been 90 well qualified TO pronounce
judgment on William Pitts internal policy
as Lord Salisbury, who, although ostensibly
a Conservative. would have been deemed
a Liberal by the Tories Of the period which
proceeded the Reform act OF 1882. II 10
we'll known that with respect to the eX-
cellence OF Pitts policy during the years
of peace covered by the earlier part OF his
long administration there has been very
little controversy in recent times. The
only dispute has been as TO which political
party has the right to appropriate bis
merits. Il was long an historical axiom
that Pitt was Tory. He was long re-
garded indeed, az the ideal OF Tory Minis
ters-the e1emplar OF vigorous govern
ment and and-revolutonary principles
For some time. accordingly Wing WRITER'S
animated by party spirit, abused his meas
ures and deprecated his fame. As parti-
sanship cooled, however, such writer's were
compelled TO recognize his meT1te but they
lndemnihed themselves by the discovery
that he was not Tory, but a Wing. Ihere
IL, OF course, no doubt that when he en-
tered Parliament. young Pitt took his place
among the Rockingham Wings, and II Is
equally certain that he was heformer'
A Catholic EmAnoipator and, TO some ex-
tent, a Free Trader. On the other hand
from the beginning TO the end OF his career
he was opposed by Fox and Grey VINO are
enshrined In the foremost inches OF the
WhiR Pantheon, and his political pupils
| we're Castlereagh and Canning, who I'M
uuestionably we're supposed by their con-
temporaries 10 be Tories. Macaulay as
serts that Pitt was an enlightened Wing.
Before Lord Salisbury can say aye or
no to that proposition, he deems It neces-
sary 70 ascertain what are the specific
qualities which In all times OF places dis
tinguish Wing from every other breed
Of politician. Touching this matter, he
thinks II needless TO say that no such
differentia can DO found. No principle
cherished by the Wings Of any one genera
ton can be named which the Wings Of some
other generation have not repudiated.
As a public man who had witnessed the
characterization Of the Tory party by
Disrasli, the author OF these essays could
not but 20 on and acknowledge that such
a change OF watchwords was not peculiar
20 the whigs. The historical continuity
Of parties has political as well as a sentl-
mental value; but such continuity Is an
absolute delusion, II it Il applied 70 measure
! the tendencies Of q statesman IN one age
! by the tendencies Of another statesman
! in another age. Il will only mislead II
| Il IL used TO give character Of permAnence
1 to that which Ia In its nature feeting. Tho
/ axioms OF the last age are the fallacies Of
| the present. the principles which save one
generation may be the ruin Of the next.
There Il nothing abiding in political science
but the necessity OF truth, purity and
| Justice. The evils by which the body
polite Is threatened are In a state Of constant
| fux. and with them the remedies by which
| those evils must be cured. Such changes
! operate very rapidly In these days. The
| concessions that were salutary yesterday
/ may be doubtful to-dny and infatuated
weaknesses tomorrow Lord Salisbury
vent on 10 remind the Iduddtorss tenn
poyis act, Of whom the Tory party used
| TO be full. that TO insist that those
who revere a great statesman's msm-
| Org shall carry out, aye and eXaggerate.
the policy which IN his lifetime he thought
| prudent II 10 forget that we live in an ever
| changing scene. To measure Pitt by
modern party cages, 10 try to accommo-
date his views 10 any platform Of the
present day, Ia folly no other In kind,
| and only less in degree. than that Of those
| historians who have written the history
OF Greece from the standpoint Of Reformers
| Of 1887 The dab at Grote In the sentence
last quoted u sufficiently obvious.
In proceeding to define the kind Of states
man which he believed Pitt 10 have been,
| the suthor Of these essays evidently out
| lined the ideals 20 which he was 70 endeavor
20 conform in his own three terms Of the
J Premiership. He expressed the opinion
that William Pitt would always be q per-
plexity 10 those who loved 10 classify the
politics Of bygone statesmen. He was
far too practical a politician 70 be given to
abstract theories, universal doctrines.
watchWords or shibboleths OF any kind.
He knew Of no political gospel that was 10
be preached In season and out Of season
alike. When he thought reform whole
some, be proposed Il; when be ceased 10
think Il wholesome. be ceased 10 propose
Il. Whether his memory would be claimed
by Reformers OF anh-Rsformers was a
question upon which he troubled himself
very little, In the same way he urged
Catholic Emancipation, even at the cost
OF power, when he judged that the balance
Of advantages was on its side. He aban-
doned Il with equal readiness a. soon a.
the Kings strong resistance and the neces-
sity Of avoiding intestine division In the
face Of foreign peril had placed the balance
Of advantage on the other side. The same
untheoretio mind may be traced IN all his
legislation. The great merit Of his meas
ures. 90 far a. they had q trial, was that
they we're admirably calculated 10 attain
the object they had IN view with the least
possible damage 10 the interests which
any great change mnst necessarily Affect.
As an example Of Pitts proaAio sagacity
the author Of thee ssaayt Gdduoes bic
India bill and his Regency bill. II is sug-
gosted that the sAmo peculiar tact in deal
ing with the feelings and prejudices Of
thoss on whom his measures were 10 operate
might be traced In most Of the beneficial
legislation by which the peaceful half Of
Pitts administration was distinguished
Within the limits Of the great principles Of
i - Il