Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1881 — OBITUARY. [ARTICLE]

OBITUARY.

Lord BeseomfleM. The Earl of Beaconsfield, England’s most brilliant statesman and diplomat, expired at his home in London on the morning of Tuesday, April 19, after a long and painful illness. Benjamin Disraeli was the son of Isaac Disraeli, an English author, a descendant of a family of Spanish Jews, I(e (Benjamin) was bom at Islington, Lond&L in 1805. After an education at a private school, he was placed in an attorney’s office, where he continued for some time as a preparation to an appointment in a Government office, which, however, he did not obtain. In 1826 he became a contributor to a paper started in the Tory interests, and called the Hepresentati ve. This paper lived only five months, but it seemed to hive had some effect upon the mind of Mr. Disraeli, in so far as to give it a political bias. In 1828 appeared his novel of “ Vivian Gray,” which was at various times succeeded by *• Contarini Fleming,” “The Young Duke,” “The Wondrous Tale of Alroy,” “Tne Rise of Iskander,” “Henrietta Temple,” “Venetia,” “Coningsbv,” “The Sibyl,*' and “Tailored." Beside these, he produced, in 1834, a quarto poem entitled “ The Revolutionary- Epic ;” and, in 1839, “ Alarcon, a Tragedy.’’ While thus actively engaged in the world of letters, he was continually before the public as a politician. In 1837, after many defeats, he was returned member from Maidstone. His first speech in the House was like his first attempts at political representation—a complete failure. His speech was laughed at throughout, and he was compelled to sit down before it was finished. This, however, he did not. do until he had said, “ I have begun several things many times, and often have succeeded at last I shall sit down now, but the time will come when you will near me.” Those words proved prophetic. The time did come when he was listened to with anxious eagerness. By bis marriage with the wealthy widow of Mr. Lewis, who had been his colleague in the representation from Maidstone, he became independent in position, and by 1841 he was recognized as the leader of the ‘ ‘Young England ” party. Between that year and 1846 his attacks upon Sir Robert Peel were as frequent as they were often brilliant and severe. He was then member from Shrewsbury, and in 1847 was elected member from Buckinghamshire. In 1848 his friend Lord George Bentinck died, when he became leader of the offi Tory or Protectionist party in the House of Commons. In 1852 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer, under Lord Derby, but in the same year that administrator fell upon his own budget. In 1858 Lord Derby again came into power, and Mr. Disraeli was again appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in 1859 introduced a measure of Parliamentary reform, the rejection of which led to the resignation of the Ministry. On the return of the Earl of Derby to power in 1866, Mr. Disraeli resumed bis position as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and carried the Reform act of 1867. Thq Earl’s health failing, he retired in February, 1868, and Mr. Disraeli succeeded him as Premier, and his wife was created a Peeress as Viscountess Beaconsfield. The Ministry resigned the following December, but Mr. Disraeli returned to power in 1874. In 1876 be was raised to the Peerage as Earl of Beaconsfield. His party having suffered defeat by the general election of 1880, he resigned office.