THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 71, 23 March 1877, Page 2

THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD.

[Communicated.] "The time will come when you will hear inc." These words were actually though indirectly addressed.to the British people by a young English M.P., who has since become not only one of the greatest living statesmen, but moreover one of the greatest that has ever lived. In diplomacy ; in practical and life-long experiencejinduly appreciating that which is sterling ; in courtesy alike towards political opponents and friends ; in habitual self control ; in invariably selecting suitable men for places best adapted to their ability ; in doing that which is requisite in the proper way and at the right time; in tact, temper, judgment and discretion ; in correctly discerning that which the people generally do both really desire and require; and not the least of any of these admirable statesmanlike qualifications, (all of which,he so abundantly possesses) consists in the thorough reliance he ever places in the entire British people. Inasmuch as by so doing lie unreservedly confers honor upon them so thereinis he at length rewarded by receiving at their hands to the fullest corresponding extent alike confidence, appreciation, and honor, in thus being unquestionably and unmistakeably placed at the highest and most exalted imperial position possible for anyone constitutionally and loyally to attain. Upon the former occasion when Benjamin Disraeli became British Premier he immediately succeeded the roost illustrious of all eminent British statesmen who have lived since the glorious

days of Pitt. Therefore it can be viewed no otherwise than disadvantageous even, for him to have been placed in lieu of the great Earl of Derby—than whom no truer Englishman ever breathed, and than whom none other has either since or before been as implicitly trusted, ardently respected, and dearly beloved equally as much by his sovereign as by all classes of his fellowcountrymen ; and amongst whom he is so justly regarded as the grandest and the noblest emblem alike of a man, of a patriot, of an orator, of a statesman, and of an English gentleman, that England has ever produced, or that the world has ever known. If to live well be to live twice, then I steadfastly believe that Our great " Earl" had become immortal Ere he passed through the "gloomy portal." I penned the following to his sacred memory regarding him as such, late in October, 1869. Noble, statesman, and scholar now gone to thy rest True patriot, proud chieftain, the greatest, the best, If misconstruction on these words *' the best" be thrown It is no fault of mine that which thou art I own. Having in some measure expressed myself as I feel towards him whom I ever regard as the " Englishman" of Englishmen. I now pass on to a wider and more general field of discourse. Before doing so, however, I feel it but just to admit that other language similar to my own, both in substance and in sentiment, was with deep feeling eloquently enunciated by the Standard newspaper in reference to " the great Earl," immediately after he had gone from us to seek (what Milton describes as) " the undiscovered country from whence no traveller returns." Thereupon the Daily Telegraph, then promptly thus replied : that if what was affirmed relative to the late Lord Derby be true, it would have been left unsaid. Hence, the logical inference clearly decubible from this is, that which the Standard openly gave expression to was most fully endorsed and reciprocated by the Daily Telegraph, only both in an oracular and an original manner. Taking into consideration how high party feeling at that time ran, I firmly believe that my given interpretation completely refutes the apparent contradiction seemingly conveyed by the Daily Telegraph, and moreover actually explains the cause for it. The opinion I "then formed has since been more fully confirmed, in consequence of the noble way in which the late M.P. for Liverpool, S. R. Graoes, Esq., was mentioned in its columns when his untimely death occurred some time after the strong partj r feeling I previously made mention of had considerably subsided. " I main- " tain that no journal has generally more "faithfully represented English popular " opinion within the last year or two than " the Daily Telegraph has done." This assertion was not only made but likewise published by me at Liverpool, June 14th, 1875. I moreover conscientiously add that none other (the Morning Advertiser and the World excepted) has upon several recent occasions striven more consistently to elevate it, and with better success.