Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1881 — that Famous First Speech. [ARTICLE]

that Famous First Speech.

INo sketch of Benjamin Disraeli is considered complete without allusion to his first sp*«Nßh in parliament, and its ridiculous failure. Mr. George Makepeace IWle, In his Unity elub lectures on Disraeli, alluding to it as a*; moat lamentable failure?’ and in this wky speak nearly all who attempt so outline the career of this remarkable man. The tendency of this, is misleading, since the inference of those who are not intelligent on the subject is" that the failure was due to the impotence of the speech itself. Such u not the feet, however. Justin McCarthy, in his “History of Our Own Times,” says it is difficult to understand, in reading if over now, why it should have excited so much, laughter.and derision.- “It is a clever speech,” he says, “fUU of point and odd conceit, very like in style and structure many Jf his speeches which in later years won for the same orator the applause of the house of cominons? r ... But Disraeli was at that time unknown save as the author of “Vivian Grey," and other literary trifling, and there was but one man in parliament at that time who saw in the dapper dandy the promise of a statesman, and that was Sir Robert Peel, against whom, later, Disraeli pronounced a philippic that convinced the house he was not only an orator, but a man who bad mastered the intricacies of British politics. When Disraeli rose to make his maiden speech he was dressed, according to an eye witness, “in a bot-tle-green flock, and a waistcoat of white, of the Dick Swiveller pattern, the front of which exhibited a glittering net-work of glittering chains; large fancy-pattern pantaloons, and a black necktie above which no shirt collar- visible." Nor w*s his dress more remarkable than his toilette. His forehead was “overhang by clustering ringlets of coal-black hair, which, combed away from the right temple, fail in bunches of well oiled ringlets over his left cheek." Fancy a gentleman with that figure, with a reputation for fantastic freaks And audacious whimsicalities, and without any standing with either political party, rising to pddress the sober and soberly-clad house of com--mons, and doing i with an amount of theatrical gesture that was considered “wild and extravagant" beyond anything seen there. Consider also that though do longer -a Jew in faith and practice, he was looked upon a* the representative of a race held in muoh less regard than it now is in England, and it is not suprising that his first sentence was received with laughter, and that it was the accompaniment of every period of the speech, however well turned. And yet nis temper was retained until the interruptions became intolerable, and as described by one who heard the debate, he turned upon his persecutors, and in a remarkable and almost terrific tone said: “I have begun several times many things and I have often succeeded at last;' ay, sir, and though I sit down now, tne time will come when you will hear me." A remarkable prediction, as It has turned out.

The Journal of the American Agricultural Association says: Suine or lard butter and Anti-Huff cheese are refered to by Mr. Crump. The former is a frautf and swindle that deserves the severest condemnation but it cannot be dangerous to health, as lard can only be rendered at a temperature that will kill animalcules. Oleomargarine is as iniquitious a compound as suine. Against the manufacture and sale of both there should be prohibitory laws, because of the Injury they have done to Kroducers and comsumers of natural utter. They have been a curse to the country and its farmers. Anti-Huff cheese is an article of cheese made from milk, from which all the cream has been taken, and in place of which a small percentage of lard is incorporated. Sold under its proper name it need cause no prejudice against American cheese. Only two small factories are yet in existence and none in the west, as Mr. Crump has be p n led to believe. It is proper to observe that none of these adulterations are chargeable to the farmer. He is interested in preserving the character and reputation of his products. The adulterations have been introduced and are manufactured solely by speculators, who regardless of the country’s prosperity, when it conflicts with their interests. Every attention Bhould be given to the matter of keeping our food products pure and beyond suspicion. On this our future prosperity as a nation hinges, for if we lose our export trade in produce, we may close our doors ana vacate our farms.