Year: 1873

Iiberas are no moro liberal than the Iories-not
mucb 40 on some the woman question, for instance,
about which Mr.. Mill was very much IN earnest. L
once heard one of the most eminent Liberal states
men in England the world say Mr.. MIL was
crazy on that subject Yet almost against ls
own viii the House listened TO him. lie was not
practced elocutonist and certainly never took les
sons like his friend Groten public speaking Nor was
his voice strong. nor his delivery effective. in the
common way. The attention he compelled was due
TO the surprising cearness of his statement and the
known weight of his opinion. He could discuss
complicated administrative details rs ably as Mr.
Gladstone himself and for that kind Of discussion
the House has a liking. In attention to business
he was more exact than almost anybody. lie was
ALWAYS in his place, be tho subject what it
might He sat on the third bench at the
end next the gangway, and of course below 1t.
While he was in Parliament he was the member
whom strangers were sure to inquire for ana they
were almost sure Of seeing him at any hour while
the House was in session. The fatigue would have
been insupportable if not mtigated by sleep Mr.
Min slept sometimes, everybody does, the leaders
on the Treasury Bench included-everybody except
Mr. Dsr aeli who is said TO be never 30 wide awake
as when he seems sound asleep.


His election for Westminster was very difficult
one He had but halting support from the Liberal
managers. The Grosvenor influence, which is very
powerful in that borough, was only half given him.
The Radicals, and, above all, the work,nRnen, car
ried him through triumphantly once; a second time
proved too much for their strength. He was not
an "ayailablep candidate. His own commit
tee complained of his independence. If West
minister has two characteristics more prominent
than all others, it is a Wing constituency and
a shop-keeping constituency in other words its
liberalism is conservative and timid Mr. Mill knew
il as well as anybody. but nothing could prevent
him from alternating one section of his supporters by
his declaration in favor of Mr. Odger, and irritating
another by his opposition TO Mr. Bouverie a wing
Of the Wings, and dear to the borough which still
prides itself on having sent Fox to the House OF
Commons against all the efforts of the Court and
the Government. In the last election stood on It's
hustings in Trafalgar-square where Mr. Illl ad-
dressed OF attempted to address, the electors There
was the usual bowling mob. IL had been given out
beforehand that Mr. Mil should not be heard. Mr.
w. IL. Smiths army of news agents were sent mp to
prevent him. nor could the best efforts OF body OF
resoute workingmen obtain silence. What they
did insure him was immunity from tho
assaults candidate has sometimes to endure. The
scene at times was almost riotous. Mr.. Mill stood
through it all with head barred and with mistaken
cooness, but he had to speak to the reporters. In



other hand, his speeches proved great success. He
was popular with the working classes he deserved
to be- and they understood him far better than
either the traders the arisocracy understood him.


OF course, l am not attempting anything like an
estimate of Mr. Mills character genius or Of his
place in history to express the aiectiOnate
reverence feel for him. / have put down what
can within the past hour of personal "reminiscences
with my own impressions from moccasionalintercourse
with him. never knew him intimately. l count
myself favored in no ordinary degree to have known
him at all. His memory needs none of the tributes
which the world makes haste to pay him The English
press shows him a certain respect-Ihe Times ex-
copted, which dreaded his influence in life, aud
would bury it with him if it cOuld-and since it
not do that belittlesh him of set purpose. day will
come when even English Philistnsm win accept
Mr. Mill as leader, if it does not canoniSe him as
saint and in that day the leading journal will have
been only led into doing him the justice which it
denies him to-day. G.W.s