New-York tribune., 1908-04-29

Win Illustrations. Two Volumes. octave
Pp xvi a.. tx, ass. E =. Dutton & CO.
S4r lanes Graham, whose Letters now appear
.,-,ost half a century after his death was 2
-.,ce-e and hearty reformer He was one OF
.s four men TO whom il fell to draw ND the
~-aat Reform Act Of 1892, the first step on that
-,ss 10 democracy which England has been
slowly travelling for the last seventy-five years
Graham also Was associated with Peel in the
xzeeTinc away Of the old restrictions on trade
" 1916 and in securing cheap food for the ma
.i,7 through the abrogation OF the Corn Laws
y administrative work, whether on his own
se-ste of twenty-six thousand acres al Neither
~. In county goveTnment and the working of
he new poor law which he had been instrt,-
mental In passing in 1884. or in the great de-
rs---9erts u state, Sir James Graham was a
-s-eess -eforrner- Old slipshod methods OF ex-
--avacance and confusion had 20 give way.
--6e- his vigorous guidance, TO intelligible
bookkeeping. economy in expenditure and an
ss--i-is1ration of national affairs on an honest
ers b-sinessIIke basis
There Was no sef-seeking in Graham's long
,.,.-ical career. He never sra sped after the
great prizes that might have easily been within
rss reach He held high Office at intervals from
7Ssn when he Joined Earl Grey-s Reform Ad-
--f-st-atf1r until his resignation. in 1850. from
a =
rsner- service during the early months Of the
--=-eau War- During the years when he vas
;- 0vrdsti0n or when as q private member he
vss giving friendly support to a government
v=-h which he was not in complete sympathy
ave--u-es were again and again made 70 him
~ induce him 10 enter the Cabinet Indeed, it
& scarcely an exaggeration TO say that no
matter who was Prime Minister. and no mat
- whether Tory. Liberal. OF a coalition
rore--r-eut was IN Office. for the last thirty
ves-s o. his life Graham might have been con-
--uously Of the Cabinet His ability and
tsf-hfclness 70 duty. his grasp OF detail as we'll
as oc first principles and above all his integ-
ritz and elevation above the ordinary devices of
he politicians. gave him q hold on the House
y Commons and on the nation which more self
seeking politicians. such as Lord John Russell
sn6 Ps-merston, could not overlook. They saw
that q enlist Graham as their supporter meant
q immense sccretion TO their strength, both IN
Parliament and II the constituencies
Notwithstanding the devotion 70 the service
q MS country and the zeal for reform which
Characterized Sir James Graham. even hasty
Te-uszI OF his letters Is sufficient 10 show that he
YES NJ believer IN popular government as
understood ~ Washington and Lincoln. The
government q England, which was his ideal.
zas something very different from government
ars,oc-acy. although even his baronetcy had
hut one generation behind it when il devolved
upon h5-l, he belonged both by instinct and by
family n The great governing class Of England.
E5 was one o the largest land owners in the
House ~ Commons L is true that his vast
estate was situated IN the somewhat ungenial
and .--=rtile county OF Cumberland and that
E1e- Graham undertook its management the
family was decidedly land poor; but by care
II s1re-lntendenCe and wise expenditures
Ne-h=-aE became one q the model estates in
IT. North of England. and is owner. when he
helped % draw up the reform bin and u repeal
hz Corn Laws which protected the farmer and
landlord. was q sincere believer ia the right OF
-1e land owning classes 10 q prepOnderauI share
II -he government of the country
Ir-o-4. when Bright was urging upon the Lib
era leaders Of the Opposition 10 the government
T Lord Derby q generous extension OF the
franchise both in borough and county constitu-
s1aes. Graham viewed his proposals with alarm
s15 -eFuEnauce Writing 70 Lord John Russell
IN january. 1e-5g concerning The views of
B--g-- H= expresses strong dlstrust of his some
vts- radical colleague. Bright has avowed his
purpose he writes. He considers an heredi-
;z-v raersze. q landed aristocracy and an inde-
re11a1- House ~ Lords Inconsistent with lib-
+--v- and because the second chamber Is not
representative L- seeks 10 render the House Of
Commons purely democratic. 70 deprive land %
rs i-1 .-r-- ----- ana 10 change that assembly
i--e mere creature Of numbers, apart from
property and Intelligence" Ideas like these are
15- u.w considered very revolutionary. but 10
Graham q proposal u treat manhood as the
tss-s - -apreseHration instead OF property was
l1c Only 5-s7asr-CuI but alarming, alarming
sld slav=rsire of the constitution as the
sTe- recurring agitation for secret voting and
H. h., -.v-r-
1-- - looked hack with affection to the prin-
cTlss ac which th- act Of 1S;2 was based
"0u- views" Ire writes, in the same letter 10
E-ssa.., were widely different when framed
II measure - 80. We based The representa-
io1 or property and Intelligence. and carefully
islrcai--I tE= balance - power. So blending
'hs -r-.anoe Cf IauG and numbers in the cleo
aoa ~ the representative body that collision
VIII rae Crown AID an independent House of
Lo-ds might b- avoided. Il Was question Of
aslsace and proportions
A. 70 rIl1e since the union with Scotland. in /
10 were Scottish affairs more TO the front
-as1 5- The arec TWO years Of Craham's tenure /
q the Home Office. The veEed question Of I
jst-are-e was reudIusy the Established Presby- /
is-za1 Church. and upon Graham rested much /
Q tae -e-IausI5iI-y for the great disruption OF |
~ Hl.u more than half Of the ministers OF !
e-r-sr1. Including almost all the learning and /
ths zcz-. Jazz their churches and manses for con-
Sseaoe 81 ks and without en6owments or re- !
surces e--abIlsLed the Free Church. Ever
Ece the DAYS = John Knox the principle Of
a@1eCra-l. government had been cherished in
ne Scottish Church: but such q principle was
egoa1 Sir James Grahau's ken II was the
el'F ~ those ia authority 70 care for the people
sac ra l.ate the people 70 choose for themselves
R'ud .aye been 2 gross dereiiction Of duty
--ae or r-r most important and sacred duties"