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^ Vantages this limitation . coerce author into dry and hief outlines of important episodes , but will enable him to treat them ! rith something ^ of me fulness necessary to a thorough enjoyment of histrie writing . By giving him space and * breathing-room , the reader travels through the annals of T ^ nronntry without fatigue , and with profit . ISFdthing % ears abridgment sovillas history . ¦ •¦¦¦• • But to our purpQSe ;; weopenmthtW I
• - POBTBAIT OE SIR' EOBEET PEEL / " Sir Robert Peel , in hfe political career , committed great mistakes ; he was , evertheless , ftom the very character of his mind , peculiarly fitted to be a potent leader of the Englishpeople * He was not a rapid learner , but lie was continually improving . -He was , esffr , ready , to J ^ en tp the exposition of new- ideas , and though slow to a < lopt ijhpin ,. ^ o-jv tQ understand ancl appreciate then ; ^ ruti )< and importance , if true they were * ie , was ^ always prepared , to entertain and discuss them , His strongest sympath ^^/ iob ^^ wewwith'the' / natipn ^ and not wi ^ tn a small dominant sectiJn or party , a ^ d in this ne was pre-eminently distinguished irom the Whig statesmen whom he through life opposed , < They may iule / or the nation , but they certainly rule hy a clique . / 1 , If ; they are liberal sometimes in opinion , it is because to
be so suits their party purposes . If they adopt a new idea , it is for the same immediate end . They refuse to be associated with any but their own peculiar set , and deem no one capable of conducting wisely the affairs of the nation , unless , he be allied to then * own party , and thus born to dominion . Sir Robert Peel , had none of this exclusive feel&g . He wasgreat enough to perceive and appreciate worth in others , had the wisdom to receive instruction even from opponents , and candour to acknowledge the obligation . < Thus he went on to the end , improving with the nation to which he belonged , never outrunning , and' seldom , certainly not of late years , lagging much . behind the national mind . < Had his intellect been of a bolder and more original cast , he would probably have been a less successful minister , as
in that case he might often have proposed reforms before the nation was prepared to receive them , and thus have diminished his power as a minister , while earning the rendwn'of a philosopher . His chief danger , however , WasfrOm an opposite quarter , . On , two momeritousVpccasions he tKngered too long in the aucient Ways , and was too tardy in following public opinion . He ran no risk of being ever before it . But . the pioneer , who . prepares the ,: way is not he who reapia either the immediate benefitor honour resulting from hi ? labour , The' philosopher who discovers great truths , and cbllecla the evidenpe » bywhich they are eventually established , must be content to liaye }^ reward ia the reverence and gratitude of posterity , and must be satisfied' with the conscionsness of the real value and importance of his
discoveries . But . the ; statesman , tobe useful , must be powerful ; and in a govern ^ meat like ours , ^ md among a practical people like the English , the safest course for a reformingminister * - is never ^ to ; bebefore bis age . < Let him not be obstinately wedded to any . yievra or opinipns-r-let him be ever- ready to hear * and , carefully and respectfully listen , to all sides ^ of every . question- ^ Ijut . lejb , him re || gipusly abstain from appropriating , or assenting to any novel conception , u > til the pubUc thoroughly understands , and earnestly adopts it . Sir Eoberfe OPfeel , twice in his life , erred in being too much of a laggard land r upon the Catholic questiop so committed himself , in opnpsition tp einaucipafton , that no , road of decorous , retreat wasr open to him . He indeed broke through the trammels , w hich his party connexions had created , and which hi ^ own ingenuity , had , materially strengthened . The lesson was severe , anc ^' to a Hxind so sensitive as his , must have been exquisitely painful . The effect , however , was , in the end , greatly conducive to the superiority to which ,
in a few years afterwards , he attained ; He was made a new ihan by the trial and suffering to which he was thus subjected , and although upon the question of Parliamentary Reform ho again committed the same mistake—that false step was not without its advantages , as he was thereby enabled to rally arpjund him the fragments of the old Tory party , and by their aid to win Jus way again , to office and to power . His conduct during his last administration , though it gave offence , never to be forgiven , to some of his immediate partisans , made him the most popular minister and the most powerful statesman known in England since the days of the first William Pitt . The nation bad confidence in his prudence ; they believed him sincerely anxious to promote the welfare of hia country , and to have real sympathies with the industrious radons of our people . . There was a filing , every day
growing stronger , jthat ; l ( he w ^ s , destined , to be the , peoples . minister ^ ijhat he , would be able , by means of popular support , to which , at length he could alone look for aid , to depart from the rule by Which the whole government of the country had hitherto been placed exclusively in the hands of the aristocracy , and to unite upon the Treasury bench a really national administration—one in which the practical sagacity and the multitudinous interests of the mercantile , manufacturing , and labouring classes should have representatives , who would not appear in the degraded char ractor of ministerial lackey * , but , as , independent ., and equal colleagues ; not receivingsoffice as a favour , and holding it / upon sufferance , buttakjng , it aa a right , and retaining it , not in accordance with' the will of an exclusive clique , but in obedience
to the wishes and command of the nation . Entertaining the hope that such was to bo the ultimate iriisslbn of Sir Robert Peel , the nation looked with eager expectation to his future career . He rose in their Affections in proportion as he lost the favour of his party , and he never was so powerful as when by that party he was at last scoutqd , and deemed .,, tojbe foricveridismissed- But , unfortunately ,. this hope was not to be fulfilled , and the intensity of the national sorrow upon tho doath of Sir Kobert Peol , gave a practical proof of tho extont of those expectations which had thus been unhappily frustrated . Every ( succeeding year increases our regret ; a bitter and humiliating oxpbrionco of tho inefficiency of thoso by whom ho has been succeeded , making us more acutely feel tho loss wo sustained , when , by an untoward fate , ho was prematurely snatched away . "
Side by Bide with this may be placed the POBTBAIT OF O ' OONNELL . , " In tho history ' of mankind thoro have peon fow instances of a power so extraordinary as that which , Mr . Q'Connoll npw exorcised pvor hia countrymen . Ho was himself thoroughly an Irisj ' iman—endowed with many great powers—wanting many qualitios , without which no man can bo doomed reoHy grout . Of u commanding presence , gifted with a beautiful and flexible voice ; nho with great quickness , versatility , wit , and the power pf compressing a long tirguinqnt into a uhort and opigraminutitt sontence-r-he seemed formed by nature for the very port which the peculiar condition of his cpunfjry called upon hhn to enact . His earl y education had given his manners something of * n ecclesiastical Bmootlmess when in tl » p society of genWemen ^ -moro part 4 cuj&rty Jjjnglfoh , gpntlomon ; but when f $ i aroasing hia own countrymen , ho could assume ( perhaps resxvmo might bo tho more
correct Word ) & rollicking air , which completely won the hearts of the exciteablo peasantry whom he sought to move , and over whom he indeed ruled with an absolute despotism . With the catholic priesthood he had also great influence , and by their aid obtained and continued his extraordinary power over his uneducated countrymen . When speaking of the priesthood , or to a priest , the demeanour of Mr . O'Connell , indeed , was so deferential as to appear a perfect prostration of mind and body to ghostly dominion : . His strict observance of th e forms of his religion , the fervour of his outward piety , won the confidence and esteem of the Irish catholic clergy . They believed him a true and obedient son of the church—they trusted
him , and finding him endowed with great ability , they , in their turn , followed and supported his political agitation .. This mutual confidence was greatly promoted by the character of Mr . O ^ Jonrieli's piety , in which terror played no common part . Subject to the influence of strong ; passions—of undoubting faith , but also liable to fits of despondency and fearj he " Was just the man to be an active and useful instrument in the hands of an astute and grasping priesthood . In most cases in which an alliance takes place between a layman and a priest , there is a lurking mutual distrust , which , spite of every art and disguise , betrays itself from time to time . But in the instance of Mr . O'Gonnell no such distrust seems ever to have arisen on
either side . The priests of his church were too sagacious to fail in accurately appreciating the extent and character of their power over his mind . They knew his ^ weakness and their own strength ; they had no fear , consequently , when aiding Mm to acqnire power over the peasantry ; - —because they were sure that this power would never be employed to diminish or even to check their own spiritual influence , and temporal authority and wealth . A perfect mutual cordiality and confidence appeared to / exist , and we believe did in reality exist , between them and Mr . O'Caiinell ;! and great advantage resulted to ; both parties from this alliance . The benefit which Mr . O'Connell received from the priests he amply repaid by the many political services which he rendered to the whole of his catholic countrymen .
"He was a skilful lawyer ; - —thoroughly acquainted with the character of his counirymen , and ready at all times to aid them when subject to accusation by the government , or quarrelling among themselves . They who have witnessed his conduct on criminal trialsand at -Nisi Priits , describe him as unrivalled in the dexterity with which , he managed a jury ; while those who have heard his legal arguments before the judges in Dublin , speak of them as models of forensic skill . The contrast between his manner on these different occasions proved his marvellous versa * tility , and ought to have prepared the House of Commons for his admirably appropriate demeanour , when he first appeared before them , as the one great representa * tive * of BomanTcatholie Ireland . He was at all times a finished actor , and could
assume , or throw off at once and completely , any part he chose . The familiar Buffoonery , the sly fun , the coarse , nay almost vulgar but really artful pathos and sarcasm of the counsel , on the circuit , whether defending a prisoner in the Crown Court , or engaged in a cause at > Ntsi JPriusj were all entirely laid aside , and sucpjeeded f by a > simplergrave , and even polished demeanour , when in Banco he had . to argue before , the judges of the superior courts . And this subdued but still ilatural manner , how different was it from that of the fierce demagogue , the impassioned accuser of his country ' s oppressors , who led the vast ass * nblies which attended the meetings of the Catholic Association ! On this arena he seemed to revel in his
freedom—to throw away restraint—to give up all command over his feelings—to make himself , indeed , his passions' slave . But amid what appeared his wildest ravings , he was ever truly master of himself;—assuming the licence of an unbridled tongue * under the guise of an overbearing indignation ;—making his passion an excuse , when it was , in fact , the pretence—he forced others really to feel the indignation , of which he exhibited only a finished imitation . In the House of Commons every trace of the ranting , rampant demagogue entirely disappeared . In the whole range of rhetoric difficulties , nothing approaches that of appealing successfully in the House of Commons to any romantic sentimentality . All who have been accustomed to address various assemblies of men , must have discovered ,
that appeals to passion , generous sentiment , romantic honour , are generally grateful only to simple anil unlettered audiences . That as the audience becomes composed of men of a more finished education , of a larger experience in the ways of men , just in the same degree all such passionate appeals become distasteful , and thereforo difficult , not to say impossible . The taste becomes more fastidious—tho feelings , by worldly contact , more blunted—and suspicion more ready and more quick-sighted . What would make an assembly of peasants weep , would probably send the House of Commons to sleep , or would keep them awake simply by exciting their contempt and disgust . Mr . O'Connell knew this well , and further , he was aware that tho assembly into which ho entered , when ho entered tho House of Commons , was as courageous as fastidious . That it was as difficult to excite their few as it was easy to offend their taste . To bully thorn ho knew was dangerous—to frighten them impossible—to persuade them out of their former convictions , almoat hopeless ; but to amuse and interest them—to command their attention and respect by wit ,
knowledge , clear and forcible statement and accurate reasoning , and sometimes by rare and felicitous and finished touches of passionate argument , to oxcito and almost convince them , —all this , ho was aware , was within tho power of a great orator . Proudly conscious that ho could aspiro to this high calling , with a calm aolf-possesBion ho applied himself to his last most difficult task of conquering tho atten-, tion—tho respectful attention—of an adverse House of Common *) , and—succeeded . " That Mr Q'ConnoU ' s powora wore of tho highest order cannot bo deniedthat few men have had opportunities of rendering great services to their country , so numerous and happy as ho had , is also certain . It must however bo confessed that his groat ability and glorious opportunities woro of comparatively little use either to himself or others—and that few have so long and to such nn extent engaged tho attention of tho world , and havo passed away , leaving bo little bohind thorn by whioh they can bo worthily remembered . tho that would lease
" To fusumo tho manner , and omploy languago p a particular assomblv and contribute to the attainment of a givou end , was no difficult task for so finished an actor afl Mr . O'Connoll . But to bo observant of tho truth—to sacrifico selfish purposes—to withstand tho popular prejudice that created hia power requirod a mind trained from infancy to oboy tho dictates of tho exalted morality fitted for i \ free people , and whioh among thorn alono can be found Unfortunatoly for Jna fame and tho happiness of biq country , Mr . O'Cpnnoll was tainted with the vicos produced by that dominion against which ho roared u gallant front Tho slavery that ho uttompted to vanquish , had exorcised its baneful influx onco over his own mind , That coroloBsnosa respecting truth which always attends tho slave ' s condition , deformed the mind of him who was dostined in ono remark , able instance to pvowomo flio very tyrtumy which marked with ignominy tfio r » to which ho belonged . "
Untitled Article
Feb > 1 *> 15 ^ . ] fll ^ lAPE ' R , 137
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 14, 1852, page 157, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1922/page/17/
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