Ten Englishmen of the Nineteenth Century Part 11

Beaconsfield's star culminated at the Congress of Berlin. The efforts of his administration to defend India on the side of Russia by strengthening English hold on Afghanistan, led to the second Afghan War with its b.l.o.o.d.y ma.s.sacres and humiliating episodes. In South Africa the imperial policy gave offense to blacks as well as whites, and led to wars which reflected little honor upon British arms. Hard times and consequent hardship among the agricultural cla.s.ses at home combined with the petty but distressing occurrences in Asia and Africa to bring about a Liberal victory at the general election of 1880, and in April of that year Beaconsfield resigned his portfolio and seals to his great rival, Mr. Gladstone.

It was characteristic of the man's indomitable energy to signalize the year of his fall by writing another novel, "Endymion," a remarkable feat for a man of seventy-six years. He continued to appear in Parliament until near the day of his death, which took place in London, April 19, 1881, on the night following Easter Day.

Among the eulogies p.r.o.nounced in Parliament upon the fallen leader none was more satisfactory in its explanation of Disraeli's remarkable career than that of the Marquis of Salisbury, who, at his death, succeeded to the chieftancy in the Conservative party. "To me," he said, "as I believe to all others who have worked with him, his patience, his gentleness, his unswerving and unselfish loyalty to his colleagues and fellow- laborers, have made an impression that will never leave me so long as life endures. But these feelings could only affect a limited circle of his immediate adherents. The impression which his career and character have made on the vast ma.s.s of his countrymen must be sought elsewhere. To a great extent, no doubt, it is due to the peculiar character of his genius, to its varied nature, to the wonderful combination of qualities he possessed, and which rarely reside in the same brain. To some extent also there is no doubt that circ.u.mstances--that is, the social difficulties which opposed themselves to his early rise and the splendid perseverance by which they were overcome--impressed his countrymen who love to see exemplified that career open to all persons, whatever their initial difficulties may be, which is one of the characteristics of the inst.i.tutions of which they are most proud.

"Zeal for the greatness of England was the pa.s.sion of his mind.

Opinions might, and did, differ deeply as to the measures and steps by which expression was given to the dominant feelings, and more and more, as life drew near its close, as the heat and turmoil of controversy were left behind, as the gratification of every possible ambition negatived the suggestion of any inferior motives and brought out into greater prominence the purity and strength of this one intense feeling the people of this country recognized the force with which this desire dominated his actions. In the questions of interior policy which divided cla.s.ses, he had to consider them, he had to judge them, and to take his course accordingly. It seemed to me that he treated them always as of secondary interest compared to the one great question--how the country to which he belonged might be made united and strong!"

The party to which Disraeli's genius gave direction and victory came again to power after the defeat of the Gladstonian schemes for the relief of Ireland, and reinforced by the Liberal-Unionist contingent under Joseph Chamberlain it has governed England for nearly twenty years. Its head, Lord Salisbury, one of Beaconsfield's most trusted lieutenants, has been true to the ruling ideas of his brilliant chief. The idea of an English empire, its parts inspired with a common purpose, has been zealously nourished. The jubilee (1887) and diamond jubilee (1897), of Queen Victoria's reign, were seized upon to give prominence and honor to the colonial representatives. The premiers of the colonies have met in conference at London and the whole vast and complex problem of federal empire has come under discussion. The problem is still far from solution, but that the relation has pa.s.sed beyond the stage of mere sentiment is shown in many ways. The joy of the colonies over the diamond jubilee (1897), their united grief at Victoria's pa.s.sing (1901), their welcome to the son of Edward VII., upon his progress around the world, and the unanimity with which volunteers sprang to the aid of England in the South African War--this response of English hearts in Canada, Australia, and elsewhere to the drum-beat of the empire was the fulfillment of one of Beaconsfield's imaginative dreams. A writer in the "Spectator" two years earlier had made the prophecy which in the century's end came to be realized:

"The night is full of darkness and doubt, The stars are dim and the Hunter's out: The waves begin to wrestle and moan; The Lion stands by his sh.o.r.e alone, And sends to the bounds of Earth and Sea First low notes of the thunder to be.

Then East and West through the vastness grim, The whelps of the Lion answer him."

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What different elements make up the present British Empire?

2. What prominence did Disraeli gain from his speech against Peel in 1846?

3. Describe his early life and personal appearance.

4. What unsuccessful attempts did he make to enter Parliament?

5. Describe his maiden speech in the House.

6. How did he regard Peel and the Corn Laws?

7. What was "the leap in the dark," which he took in 1867?

8. How had the statesmen immediately preceding Disraeli looked upon English colonial possessions?

9. What was his point of view as expressed in 1872?

10. How did England secure control of the Suez Ca.n.a.l?

11. What position did England take with reference to the Russo- Turkish War?

12. What circ.u.mstances led to the overthrow of Disraeli's party?

13. What was Lord Salisbury's estimate of Disraeli?

14. How have Disraeli's ideas been recognized under the Salisbury government?

15. What is "jingoism"?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIFE OF BEACONSFIELD. J. A. Froude.

LIFE OF LORD GEORGE BENTINCK. Benjamin Disraeli.

CONINGSBY. Benjamin Disraeli.

IMPERIAL FEDERATION. George R. Parkin.

PROBLEMS OF GREATER BRITAIN. Sir C. W. Dilke.

APPENDIX

I

WELLINGTON

WATERLOO

[This dispatch by the Duke of Wellington touching upon the battle of Waterloo is in his usual plain and straightforward manner.]

To Marshal Lord Beresford, G. C. B.: You will have heard of our battle of the 18th. Never did I see such a pounding match. Both were what the boxers call "gluttons." Napoleon did not manoeuver at all. He just moved forward in the old style in columns, and was driven off in the old style. The only difference was, that he mixed cavalry with his infantry, and supported both with an enormous quant.i.ty of artillery.

I had the infantry for some time in squares, and I had the French cavalry walking about as if they had been our own. I never saw the British infantry behave so well.

WELLESLEY.

OPPOSITION TO REFORM

[In the House of Lords in the course of the debate on the King's Speech, Nov. 2, 1830, the Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, spoke in part as follows. The inflexible Toryism of the speech disgusted the country and led to the defeat of the ministry. Earl Grey came into power and carried the Reform Bill.]

This subject brings me to what n.o.ble lords have said respecting the putting the country in a state to overcome the evils likely to result from the late disturbances in France. The n.o.ble Earl has alluded to the propriety of effecting parliamentary reform.

The n.o.ble Earl has, however, been candid enough to acknowledge that he is not prepared with any measure of reform, and I can have no scruple in saying that his Majesty's government is as totally unprepared with any plan as the n.o.ble Lord. Nay, I, on my own part, will go further, and say, that I have never read or heard of any measure up to the present moment which can in any degree satisfy my mind that the state of the representation can be improved, or be rendered more satisfactory to the country at large than at the present moment. I will not, however, at such an unseasonable time, enter upon the subject, or excite discussion, but I shall not hesitate to declare unequivocally what are my sentiments upon it. I am fully convinced that the country possesses at the present moment a legislature which answers all the good purpose of legislation, and this to a greater degree than any legislature ever has answered in any country whatever. I will go further, and say, that the legislature and the system of representation possess the full and entire confidence of the country--deservedly possess that confidence--and the discussions in the legislature have a very great influence over the opinions of the country. I will go still further, and say, that if at the present moment I had imposed upon me the duty of forming a legislature for any country, and particularly for a country like this, in possession of great property of various descriptions, I do not mean to a.s.sert that I could form such a legislature as we possess now, for the nature of man is incapable of reaching such excellence at once; but my great endeavor would be to form some description of legislature which would produce the same results.

The representation of the people at present contains a large body of the property of the country, and in which the landed interests have a preponderating influence. Under these circ.u.mstances, I am not prepared to bring forward any measure of the description alluded to by the n.o.ble Lord. I am not only not prepared to bring forward any measure of this nature, but I will at once declare that as far as I am concerned, as long as I hold any station in the government of the country, I shall always feel it my duty to resist such measures when proposed by others.

THE LAUREATE'S TRIBUTE

[The feeling of the English nation toward the Duke of Wellington was n.o.bly expressed by Tennyson in his great "Ode," published in 1852, the year of the Duke's death.]

I

Bury the Great Duke With an empire's lamentation; Let us bury the Great Duke To the noise of the mourning of a mighty nation- Mourning when their leaders fall, Warriors carry the warrior's pall, And sorrow darkens hamlet and hall.

II

Where shall we lay the man whom we deplore?

Here in streaming London's central roar.

Let the sound of those he wrought for, And the feet of those he fought for Echo round his bones forevermore.

III

Lead out the pageant, sad and slow, As fits a universal woe; Let the long, long procession go, And let the sorrowing crowd about it grow, And let the mournful martial music blow; The last great Englishman is low.

IV

Mourn, for to us he seems the last, Remembering all his greatness in the past.

No more in soldier fashion will he greet With lifted hand the gazer in the street.

O friends, our chief state-oracle is mute; Mourn for the man of long-enduring blood, The statesman-warrior, moderate, resolute, Whole in himself, a common good.