Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1878 — EARL OF BEACONSFIELD. [ARTICLE]

EARL OF BEACONSFIELD.

Hi* Extraordinary Career. • Benjamin Disraeli, now nearly 73 years old, has been before the English public as a literary man or as a politician for fifty-four years. He b< gan life with neither wealth or title nor family influence to aid him. He achieved extraordinary success as an author, became the leader of the House of Commons, then Minister of Finance, then Prime Minister, then leader of the Government party, and finally, Prime Minister again. Now, with the rank of Earl, and honored as one of the most brilliant of European diplomatists, he returns from Berlin, the scene of h<s triumphs, the most popular man in England.

Disraeli’s Jewish ancestors went from Spain to Venice in the fifteenth century, and, giving up their family name, took that of Disraeli. His grandfather removed to England in 1748, where his father was bom in 1766. Of Jewish descent, Benjamin Disraeli has been most thoroughly an Englishman in his instincts, prejudices and ambitions, and from the time he wrote “Vivian Gray,” in 1826, he has been a favorite in English society. In his earlier political struggles his opponents taunted him with being a Jew, and the celebrated O’Connell said of him: “For aught I know the present Disraeli is the true heir-at-law of the impenitent thief who died on the cross. ” For this, or on account of the quarrel that grew out of it, Disraeli challenged O’Connell’s son, but the challenge was not accepted. In 1831 Disraeli made an attempt to enter Parliament as u Tory Radical, but was defeated. In 1834 he made another attempt and was again defeated. Id May, 1835, he made another attempt, as a thorough-going Conservative, and was again defeated. At last, in 1837, in the first Parliament of the reign of Queen Victoria, he entered the House of Commons as a Conservative. His maiden speech was a complete failure, and the House, refusing to listen, clamored him down. It was on this occasion he said, “ I shall sit down now, but the time will come when you will hear me.” Four years later Disraeli was a rising mem ber, and his speeches were praised for their ability. In 1847 he began to take a leading part in the House of Commons, and in 1849 he became the recognized leader of the Conservative party, and had the reputation of being one of the most powerful debaters in the kingdom. Tn 1852 he was made Chancellor of the Exchequer, and became the leader of the Ministerial party in the House of Commons. He went' out of office with the Derby Ministry, but returned to office in 1858, and in 1859 brought forward his plan of electoral reform, which extended suffrage to the whole body of the educated class without regard to property. This was defeated. In 1866 Disraeli was the leader of the opposition, in the. House, but again become Chancellor in 1867, and pressed his electoral-reform bill in modified form to a successful issue. In February, 1868, Disraeli became Prime Minister, but was succeeded by Gladstone in December. He became Prime Minister again in 1874, and since that date has shaped the policy of the Government, and has carried England, without risk, through a great European crisis, secur ing the greatest diplomatic triumph of the century.