EARL RUSSELL AND LAMARTINE

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 63, 24 April 1869, Page 3

EARL RUSSELL AND LAMARTINE

English advices per s.s. Tararua announce the death of two men who played no unimportant part in- the history of the past forty years. Lord John Russell's name became a household word forty years ago, whe^ the first Eeform agitation arose. By hid exertions, which proved finally successful in 1832, he attained a popularity such as seldom has rewarded the labours of a statesman. Under the premiership of G-rey and Melbourne he held various offices, and on the break-up of the Conservative Party in 1846, he succeeded bir Robert Peel as First Lord of the Treasury. His Government preserved a sickly and oftenthreatened existence until 1851, when the secession of Lord Palroerstou compelled his resignation. In 1854 he brought in a new Reform Bill, which was abandoned after the first reading. In 1855 he forfeited all his popularity by his mismanagement while acting as British Representative at the Conference. Now men's minds are calmed; and Avhile it is generally acknowledged that the Russian War was both a blunder and a crime,- the verdict on the statesman just passed from among us will be less severe. In 1859 lie was raised to the peerage, and accepted office as Foreign Secretary under Lord Palmerston. During his tenure of this post he cei*tainly did not display any adroit diplomacy, nor did he avoid many ridiculous blunders; but altogether, his honesty of purpose and, intense desire for peace proved more beneficial to the country than the rule of a more brilliant man might -have done. The crowning glory of his long life was the -passing of the Reform Bill of 1867* although the very peculiar tactics of Mr. Disraeli deprived him' of the satisfaction of passing it through the House during his own Government. The meagre accounts brought by the Tararua do not give the date of Earl Russell's death, but it must have happened just at the moment when lie felt the pride of having at last succeeded in overthrowing that organised iniquity, the Irish Church. Earl Russell, in spite of his dwarfish stature and squeaking voice, was always listened to with respect — yet he was neither a profound thinker nor a brilliant debater. He had, however, a large share of that peculiar sagacity we call common-sense, and his honesty was never impeached. He courted fame as an author, but without success — his essay on the English Constitution being only remarkable as the dullest book in the English language. He was in his 77th year. He is succeeded in the earldom by his son, Lord Amberley, who made himself ridiculous some years ago by his speeches while contesting an English Borough.

Alphonse de Lainartine was a politician as purely French as Earl Russell was English. His political career was, but a few months in duration ; yet in that time he succeeded in doing a lasting injury to his native land. .Born in 1792, he spont his youth in alternate study and dissipation, • until 1820. when, by the publication of a volume of poetry, he took a high rank among the literary men of the day. His literary success was naturally followed by political employment, but his diplomatic career was cut short by the > revolution of 1830, and he retired into private life.. In 1847 he again appeared before the public as a politician, aud assailed Guizot with all the wit and vigour of his genius, not only in numerous brochures j but also in the "History of tho Girondins." When the revolutions of 1848 drove the Orleans Family from the throne, Lamartine appeared the leading spirit of the storm. But he quailed before the tumult he had helped to raise, and when the sections rose and assailed the Hotel de Ville, he was found on the side of the Moderatists. He had forgotten the lesson taught in his own history, that a revolution must progress or perish. His brilliant oratory and pei"sonal popularity gained a triumph for his party, which was signalised by the adoption of the tricolor instead of' the red as the national emblem. But even this popularity soon waned, so much so that on the election of President, his return to the Chamber of Deputies was a matter of difficulty, indeed, the thinking portion of the people'saw that by his moral cowardice, Imperialism had been made possible — a forboding too truly verified by the coup-d'-etat. After this fearful atrocity had prostrated all France at the feet of a tyrant, Lamartine retired into private life. His private means were exhausted, and for the last twenty years he has lived on the sale of his literary productions and the charity of a few admirers. Great as his talents undoubtedly were, the eulogy dies away from our lips when we think that but for this man, 'France might still have been a Republic.