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ROBERT LOWE. (From the Spectator, July 7.)
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 6 October 1866, page 8
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2012-05-02 09:57:48.0anonymousordimrj political traditions, and laughed privately at
tnve lightning in the well directed forked flashes of
istic principle The Revised Education Code was his
ordinary political traditions, and laughed privately at
tive lightning in the well directed forked flashes of
istic principle. The Revised Education Code was his
2012-05-02 09:56:09.0anonymoushnrdy aim and physicul strength, as it werc, abovo it,
has come out with a shrtwd contempt for what he has
seen, and falls back on the phvsicai strengths of tho
univtrse, in eluding of coursc physicai science as tho
most potent part uf phymcul strengtli, as laying the
foundution of all things —while Mr Mill, who has
lived the life of a stident, and rIsen to tho surface of
pohtical lfie by virtue of the generoiis admiiriitmn with
which muny of his thoughts have fUlled the minds
even of those who do not concur im his philosophy,
has kept hus faitli im humoiiity fresh, im spite of a
theory which traces back its best edements to rather
poor amd pale beginnings Thus Mr lowe' s sarcasm
is prduccd by tho friction of a hnghly disciplmed
intellect drawn swiftly amd closely over
ing out that half musical, half shrill amd
discordant sort of sound, thrnlhng to tho very blood,
which you draw with a wet fingei from the edge of a
fAnger glass,—Mr Mill's by the warm friction cf a
delicate, sensitive, moral tempérament, with the sime
surface, producmg a multitude of bright electric
after all more to account for, or at most modify, hus,
termine them
country rector did decide with so much sur
from jim," while many scores of pages could
be quoted from Mr Mil's works showing that " pro
perty has something to fear from Mr Mill. Foi
though on the whole Mr Iowe's respect for physical
power, success, and prospenty his thrown his influ
ence into the scale of wealtli as agaitinst poverty, yet
the vcry same feeling induces hm to mako light of all
idealities, sentimtnts, amd obligatiuus and so to dis-
solve the very moral cement of socicty, while Mr.
Mill, who loosens stones im the structure here and
there, and now and then removes mortar wIhjch is
hardy aim and physical strength, as it were, above it,
has come out with a shrewd contempt for what he has
seen, and falls back on the physical strengths of tho
universe, in eluding of course physical science as tho
most potent part of physical strength, as laying the
foundation of all things —while Mr Mill, who has
lived the life of a student, and risen to tho surface of
political life by virtue of the generous admiration with
which many of his thoughts have filled the minds
even of those who do not concur in his philosophy,
has kept his faith in humanity fresh, in spite of a
theory which traces back its best elements to rather
poor and pale beginnings. Thus Mr Lowe's sarcasm
is produced by tho friction of a highly disciplined
intellect drawn swiftly and closely over
ing out that half musical, half shrill and
discordant sort of sound, thrilling to tho very blood,
which you draw with a wet finger from the edge of a
finger glass,—Mr Mill's by the warm friction of a
delicate, sensitive, moral temperament, with the same
surface, producing a multitude of bright electric
after all more to account for, or at most modify, his
termine them.
country rector did decide with so much sur-
from him," while many scores of pages could
be quoted from Mr Mill's works showing that " pro
perty has something to fear from Mr Mill. For
though on the whole Mr Lowe's respect for physical
power, success, and prosperity has thrown his influ-
ence into the scale of wealth as against poverty, yet
the very same feeling induces him to make light of all
idealities, sentiments, and obligations, and so to dis-
solve the very moral cement of society, while Mr.
Mill, who loosens stones in the structure here and
there, and now and then removes mortar which is
2012-05-02 09:49:53.0anonymous| fJProm the Spectator, July *.) \
sardonic ring of his luod voice, which vibrates like a
air of liixiry in his mode of administering intellectual
of his position,—that of a man oi brilliant capacities
rate success Indeed, no one can gain a great
wide-spreitd and deenly imgriined feehng Only
tihs sission, since the Reform Rill became a serious
intellectual scorn with wihch Mr Jovie knows so well
how to invest eqiinly a traditional Tory sentiment
by a grcat party eugeney into a scathing and destrue
wihch the Tories have reioiced, though keen eyed
' the temper they struck at, than from any living
flame of faith ni thc cavse they defended. Mr Lowe,
in the jarring sarcasm with wihch he ever brings his
andience back to the test of immediate utilities and
' paymont by results, im the-warnth of hus eulogics
on the trnuniphs of our material cmvilisation, on the
clenr and visible advantago of accuniulated capital,
enlargpd manufnctures,abd unfetteied trade and most
of all, in the clcar, carefiilly disciplined, theoretic
House 'The new point is, as we said, the accident
(in some scnse) that has enabled him to use that
constitutional party in the side of which he had pre
viously been a festerung thorn, and this without even
the least infidility to his own scepticil and material-
istic pnntiple The Revisrd Edueation Code was his
great battle-ground with the vcrypitty of wluJi he
is now the trusted indpeneildent adviser, and yet tho
Revised Edueation Code procecded on the very prin-
Reform The certificated schoolmasters, the country
clergy, and as much as any tho Conservativo
him, when he first announced the educitional
principle of "payment by results," as a cruel, des
cannot be gauged by the size of schools or the success ,
particular measure But the time came when Mr ,
principle on which he fought the education reform,
the pure utilitarian principle of " payment by results, '
change. Nor has the consistency been only apparent
quences Of course there are, there always must be,
plcnty of like minded men in the House, but what has
made Mr Lowe remarkable is the swift intellectual
insight the varied attainments, the sarcastic wit, the
the unique character to Mr Lowe's position For it
ideal in politics As far as we can see, his conviction
intellectual disappointment with higher things He
class and in favour of the middle class And why?
than Irish, tenant farmers What is the true secret of
tion " It is not the educated and reflective," he
said, in the most remarkable passage of his regent
educated and the unreflective, and if you show to
instincts use within them, and nothing is easier
grievances. We feel the injustice too, but we
enthusiasms Mr Lowe showed the same strong bias
as compared with the classical and logical or surely
scentinc and intellectual culture of the Universities.
other branch of knowledge " The tubular bridges,
deserve, Mr Lowe tells us, to rank as the high tide
noblest departments of human culture , and the
the strikng contrast between his political creed and
(From the Spectator, July 7.)
sardonic ring of his loud voice, which vibrates like a
air of luxury in his mode of administering intellectual
of his position,—that of a man of brilliant capacities
rate success. Indeed, no one can gain a great
wide-spread and deeply ingrained feeling. Only
this session, since the Reform Rill became a serious
intellectual scorn with which Mr Lowe knows so well
how to invest equally a traditional Tory sentiment
by a great party exigency into a scathing and destruc-
which the Tories have rejoiced, though keen eyed
the temper they struck at, than from any living
flame of faith in the cause they defended. Mr Lowe,
in the jarring sarcasm with which he ever brings his
audience back to the test of immediate utilities and
" payment by results," in the warmth of his eulogies
on the triumphs of our material civilisation, on the
clear and visible advantage of accumulated capital,
enlarged manufactures,and unfettered trade and most
of all, in the clear, carefully disciplined, theoretic
House. The new point is, as we said, the accident
(in some sense) that has enabled him to use that
constitutional party in the side of which he had pre-
viously been a festering thorn, and this without even
the least infidelity to his own sceptical and material-
istic principle The Revised Education Code was his
great battle-ground with the very party of which he
is now the trusted independent adviser, and yet tho
Revised Education Code proceeded on the very prin-
Reform. The certificated schoolmasters, the country
clergy, and as much as any tho Conservative
him, when he first announced the educational
principle of "payment by results," as a cruel, des-
cannot be gauged by the size of schools or the success
particular measure. But the time came when Mr.
principle on which he fought the education reform,—
the pure utilitarian principle of " payment by results,"
change. Nor has the consistency been only apparent.
quences. Of course there are, there always must be,
plenty of like minded men in the House, but what has
made Mr. Lowe remarkable is the swift intellectual
insight, the varied attainments, the sarcastic wit, the
the unique character to Mr Lowe's position. For it
ideal in politics. As far as we can see, his conviction
intellectual disappointment with higher things. He
class and in favour of the middle class. And why?
than Irish, tenant farmers. What is the true secret of
tion. " It is not the educated and reflective," he
said, in the most remarkable passage of his recent
educated and the unreflective; and if you show to
instincts rise within them, and nothing is easier
grievances. We feel the injustice too; but we
enthusiasms. Mr Lowe showed the same strong bias
as compared with the classical and logical or purely
scientific and intellectual culture of the Universities.
other branch of knowledge. " The tubular bridges,
deserve, Mr Lowe tells us, to rank as the high-tide
noblest departments of human culture ; and the
the striking contrast between his political creed and
2012-05-02 09:30:09.0anonymousMu J e>VIE is the grcnt reputation of the Bcsston xn the
llonte oi ConnuuiiH >>o stranger now goes there with-
out first looking for the -white gleum, or rather Hash,
of hi*. stnkinD head, or listening an-viously for the cold
sardonic ung of hi» lueid voice, which vibrates like a
.shiver of half mocking intelligente lhere lias always
been a glamour of mischief about lus manner, Ti certain
air of liiMirj in his mode of administering intellectual
of his position,-that of a man oi brilliant capacities
them 11,-which, taken together, have up to tho pre-
sent hen-ion robbed lum of the opportunity for a Jirst
rute biieres« Indeed, no one can gam a great
political buccess m Lngland by virtue of mere
individual power, without nKo representing, by
accident, if not from ni) deeper ctuse, a
wide-Pprcitd nnd decnlj m^riined loehng Only
tins hiBBion, since the Reform Rill became a serious
quistion, have the sheen and shimmer of mischievous
intellectual scorn with winch Mr Jovieknows so well
how to invest ef[iinlh i traditional lorj sentiment
ir il a sanguine popular enthusiasm, been concentrated
bv, i gi cat part j eugene) into a BL ¿thing anddestrue
tne lightning in the well directed forked flashes of
winch the lories have rcioiccd, though keen eyed
spcctatois have seen that (ven these proceeded moie
from a negative tone of mind, an electric íepulsion for
' the temper lhcj struck it, than jrom anv living
flaire of faith ni t' c cavihe thev defended Mr Lowe,
in the jarring sarcasm with winch he ever brings his
andiiiicc back to the te* f'f immediate utilities and
' pi)mont bj icsults, m ti °- «¿ninth of lus eulo«ics
ni ihe tnuniphs of oui materia1 milisation, on the
eleni and visible ithantago of ne-uniulated capital,
cnliigptl minufncturc«, i»d iinletteiei<li*û^ and most
oi nil, in the elc-ir, enrcJiillv disciplined theoretic
mullett wilh which he spoils at intellectu ». theor>,
ndicultH intuitive btlufs, and a pi iori principle" of
justice, und appeals to the more tangible and corser
hints of cxpcrirrcc, sometimes seems a sort of Pal li*- I
jncntaij Meplustojihelef, tempting his row pupil,
I with the Miphistophchaii assurtinco that, after all,
intellect ii naught, except so fur na it lends to enjoy
mint of sense, or, aa Mephistophclcs in 1 anst's pro-
fessional gown roys to the poor scholar
ability in defence of n great, and united, and compact
constitutional party in tht side ol which he had pre
?nous]} bee» a lest« ung thorn, and this without even
the least intidilin to his ownsiopticil and material-
istic pnntiple ihe Rcvisrd rdueation Co lo was his
great battle-ground with the vcr) pitt) ot vvluJi he
is now the trusted indi neild« nt adviser, and yet tho
Revised rdueation Code pr cecded on the very prin-
clergy, and as much as an) tho Conservativo
lum, when he first announced the educitional
principle of "pojment bj results," as a cruel, des
of pupils. And they were right im their conception
-has enlisted from the very ranks which then fought
change Nor has the consistency been only apparent
On all great questions alike Mr Low e has been and is
and material prospenty as the test of political truth, and
quences Of course there are, there alwavs must be,
made Mr Iowo remarkable is the swift intellcctu ii
them almost -always use rather to depre-
tarian progress It is the curious flashes of
tion " It is not the educated and reflective,' he
educated and the unrcilective, and if you shuw to
injustice, and wickedniss anvwhere, their generous
selves to a decided course Persons, also, who have
may by the lOSs be reduced to absolute poverty ' In
enthusiasms Mr Iowe showed the same strong bias
im a still more remarkable form in his curious eulogy
scentinc and intellectual culture of the Universities
a rapidity no one could gauge, Tho civil engineers
were the heirs of all the ages, and the field ot their
that of Mr. J, S, Mill, the great champion of the
Mr Lowe invcighs, the most eminent exponent of that
to test the worth of political classes Both have
sarcasm The one mocks at failure, the other at that
Reform patty would not warrant a Beast Parliament
out of the bed " Mr Mill, on the other hand, strikes
they have not fallen " There is the same contrast in
science, political economy Mr. Lowe never raises
society is very probably the stationary state, im wlhch
sion The true difference between the two men as
" Gran, th urer Freund ¡it alle Theorie,
Und gum dis I ebin» goldmr Baum "
" Theory, di or friend i» poor and grey, you »ce,
Mr Lo«es ability is no new discovery to tho
House 'Jhe now point is, as wo said, the accident
(in tomo 6cn6e) tint has enabled him to UbO that
And grcin the foil ige of life » golden tre« '
hnrdj aim and phj sicul strength, «s it w"rc, nbovo it«
has come out with ti slirtwd contempt fu what ho ho«
seen, and falls b ick on the phvsic ii strengths ol tho
univtrse, in eluding oi couisc phv sic ii science as tho
n ost potent pnrt ut phjmcul stitngtli, iii laying the
ioundution of nil ti inc,s -while \lr Mill, who hail
livid the life of n--tiiilenf, and HI.CII ti\ tho surf ice of
jiohtienl hie bj virtue ol the uontr)iis nil iiiriitmn with
which mun) ol hi» thouDhta lune Ulled the minds
even of those who do not concur m his philosophy,
has kept lus failli m humoiiit) ticsh, m spite of ft
theor) which troces bick its best dements to rather
poor mid palo beginnings lhus Mr 1 »we s sarcasm
is p»< duccd bj tho friction of n lnDhlj d aciplmed
intellect drawn swiftly mid closely ovei
ing out that 1 alf musical, half shrill ami
discordant sort of sound, thnlhng to tho very blood,
which )ou draw with ti wet linc;ei from the cjge of a
Anger glass,-Mi Mill's bj the vv inn friction cf a.
surface, produtmg a multitude of bright electric
sparks und no disbonanccb,-his tine intellect serving
after all moro to account for, or nt most modify, hu,
termine thtm
Mr Lowe is really far the moro dangerous man of
countrj lector did decide with so much sur
pi isc, on reading one of his late speeches,
that ' Property, then, has nothing to fear
fiom lum, while man j scores ot \m¿ee could
be quoted from Mr Mill s works sho ing that " pro
pert) has something to fear fiom Mr Mill loi
though on the whole Mr I owe » respect for physical
power, success, and prospentj his thrown his uiilu
ence into the scale of w cultli ns u¡,itinst poverty, yet
the vcrj same feeling induces lum to in iko light of all
idealities, ttntimtnts, mid ni li0 itiuus and so to dis-
solve the verv moral cement ol socictv, white Mr.
Mill, who loosens stones m the structure here and
there, nnd now and then removes mortar vv Inch io
sound and binding enough, ) et uses his whole influ-
ence to rebuild and reccment t'ie structure he attacks,
and so greatly deepens the general Bensc of disinter-
ested social duties I hub Mr Luwe defends the
citadel of the Constitution w ith an engine the mere
dangiroui-1) than tin of Mr Mill s uimiulting parties,
wl iib. would at most only ifRct breaches in the walls,
and afterwards multiplj breall) the number of thoee
anxious to repair and to defend them
Mr LOWE is the great reputation of the session in the
House of Commons. No stranger now goes there with-
out first looking for the white gleam, or rather flash,
of his striking head, or listening anxiously for the cold
sardonic ring of his luod voice, which vibrates like a
shiver of half mocking intelligence. There has always
been a glamour of mischief about his manner, a certain
air of liixiry in his mode of administering intellectual
of his position,—that of a man oi brilliant capacities
them all,—which, taken together, have up to tho pre-
sent session robbed him of the opportunity for a first
rate success Indeed, no one can gain a great
political success in England by virtue of mere
individual power, without also representing, by
accident, if not from any deeper cause, a
wide-spreitd and deenly imgriined feehng Only
tihs sission, since the Reform Rill became a serious
question, have the sheen and shimmer of mischievous
intellectual scorn with wihch Mr Jovie knows so well
how to invest eqiinly a traditional Tory sentiment
and a sanguine popular enthusiasm, been concentrated
by a grcat party eugeney into a scathing and destrue
tnve lightning in the well directed forked flashes of
wihch the Tories have reioiced, though keen eyed
spectators have seen that even these proceeded more
from a negative tone of mind, an electric repulsion for
' the temper they struck at, than from any living
flame of faith ni thc cavse they defended. Mr Lowe,
in the jarring sarcasm with wihch he ever brings his
andience back to the test of immediate utilities and
' paymont by results, im the-warnth of hus eulogics
on the trnuniphs of our material cmvilisation, on the
clenr and visible advantago of accuniulated capital,
enlargpd manufnctures,abd unfetteied trade and most
of all, in the clcar, carefiilly disciplined, theoretic
intellect with which he scoffs at intellectual theory,
ridicules intuitive beliefs, and a priori principles of
justice, and appeals to the more tangible and coarser
fruits of experience, sometimes seems a sort of Parlia-
mentary Mephistopheles, tempting his raw pupil,
with the Mephistophelain assurance that, after all,
intellect is naught, except so far as it leads to enjoy-
ment of sense, or, as Mephistopheles in Faust's pro-
fessional gown says to the poor scholar—
ability in defence of a great, and united, and compact
constitutional party in the side of which he had pre
viously been a festerung thorn, and this without even
the least infidility to his own scepticil and material-
istic pnntiple The Revisrd Edueation Code was his
great battle-ground with the vcrypitty of wluJi he
is now the trusted indpeneildent adviser, and yet tho
Revised Edueation Code procecded on the very prin-
clergy, and as much as any tho Conservativo
him, when he first announced the educitional
principle of "payment by results," as a cruel, des
of pupils. And they were right in their conception
—has enlisted from the very ranks which then fought
change. Nor has the consistency been only apparent
On all great questions alike Mr Lowe has been and is
and material prosperity as the test of political truth, and
quences Of course there are, there always must be,
made Mr Lowe remarkable is the swift intellectual
them almost always use rather to depre-
tarian progress. It is the curious flashes of
tion " It is not the educated and reflective," he
educated and the unreflective, and if you show to
injustice, and wickedness anywhere, their generous
selves to a decided course. Persons, also, who have
may by the loss be reduced to absolute poverty." In
enthusiasms Mr Lowe showed the same strong bias
in a still more remarkable form in his curious eulogy
scentinc and intellectual culture of the Universities.
a rapidity no one could gauge. The civil engineers
were the heirs of all the ages, and the field of their
that of Mr. J. S. Mill, the great champion of the
Mr Lowe inveighs, the most eminent exponent of that
to test the worth of political classes. Both have
sarcasm. The one mocks at failure, the other at that
Reform party would not warrant a Beast Parliament
out of the bed." Mr. Mill, on the other hand, strikes
they have not fallen." There is the same contrast in
science, political economy. Mr. Lowe never raises
society is very probably the stationary state, in which
sion. The true difference between the two men as
" Grau, theurer Freund ist alle Theorie,
Und grun des Lebens goldner Baum "
" Theory, dear friend is poor and grey, you see,
Mr Lowe's ability is no new discovery to tho
House 'The new point is, as we said, the accident
(in some scnse) that has enabled him to use that
And green the foliage of life's golden tree. '
hnrdy aim and physicul strength, as it werc, abovo it,
has come out with a shrtwd contempt for what he has
seen, and falls back on the phvsicai strengths of tho
univtrse, in eluding of coursc physicai science as tho
most potent part uf phymcul strengtli, as laying the
foundution of all things —while Mr Mill, who has
lived the life of a stident, and rIsen to tho surface of
pohtical lfie by virtue of the generoiis admiiriitmn with
which muny of his thoughts have fUlled the minds
even of those who do not concur im his philosophy,
has kept hus faitli im humoiiity fresh, im spite of a
theory which traces back its best edements to rather
poor amd pale beginnings Thus Mr lowe' s sarcasm
is prduccd by tho friction of a hnghly disciplmed
intellect drawn swiftly amd closely over
ing out that half musical, half shrill amd
discordant sort of sound, thrnlhng to tho very blood,
which you draw with a wet fingei from the edge of a
fAnger glass,—Mr Mill's by the warm friction cf a
surface, producmg a multitude of bright electric
sparks and no dissonances,—his fine intellect serving
after all more to account for, or at most modify, hus,
termine them
Mr Lowe is really far the more dangerous man of
country rector did decide with so much sur
prise, on reading one of his late speeches,
that " Property, then, has nothing to fear
from jim," while many scores of pages could
be quoted from Mr Mil's works showing that " pro
perty has something to fear from Mr Mill. Foi
though on the whole Mr Iowe's respect for physical
power, success, and prospenty his thrown his influ
ence into the scale of wealtli as agaitinst poverty, yet
the vcry same feeling induces hm to mako light of all
idealities, sentimtnts, amd obligatiuus and so to dis-
solve the very moral cement of socicty, while Mr.
Mill, who loosens stones im the structure here and
there, and now and then removes mortar wIhjch is
sound and binding enough, yet uses his whole influ-
ence to rebuild and recement the structure he attacks,
and so greatly deepens the general sense of disinter-
ested social duties. Thus Mr Lowe defends the
citadel of the Constitution with an engine the mere
dangerously than ten of Mr Mill's assaulting parties,
which would at most only effect breaches in the walls,
and afterwards multiply greatly the number of those
anxious to repair and to defend them.
2012-05-01 18:56:46.0anonymoustructivclv utilitarian Radical, who never hesitated to
strike at cither privileges or rights in tho interest of
what ho called "common sense," and who was
of tnnt refined culture which tolls on education in
dirictly, sou ill), and almost invisibl), and which
cntinot bo gauged bj the sire of schools or the success ,
of pupils And tiny were right m their conception
of lum, though wrong in withstanding linn on tint
? articular mt asure But the time came when Mr ,
owe, without deviating a hairsbrcidth from the |
-has enlisted from the ver) ranks which then fought
most furious]) «gainst linn an enthusiastic follow-
ing, b) making the ver) same principle tell, or
seem to till, in fnour of Conservatism, in favour of
the representative P)stem as it is, and against all
change Nor has the consistency bec'n only apparent
guided b) the same idea, bj calculations of tangible
and material prospent) as the test of political truth, and
has show n himself anxious to keep all the power lie
con in the hands of the most calculating classes,
the clut-ses most alive and susceptible and tangible,
roost nidifièrent nndobtu«cto spiritual and ide ii, conse-
quences Of course there are, thcrealwavs must be,
plcnt) of like minded men in the House, but what has
mode Mr Ixiwo remarkable is the swift intcllcctu ii
theoretic understanding, the imaginative vacant),
tarian progress It is the curious Hashes of
i\quiMtp timperof the binde winch springs from so
coaise a handle, the highly disciplined tutellect which
mnkrs lie,ht of high intclleitual disciplint, that give
the unique tharacter to Mr I owe s position Tiru
is not in Mr lowe a misanthropic cjricisin striking
a blow in disgust at its own heart, which induces bun
to prui'-c vvcilth, and property, and all that is tangible
in tivilisation, while he makes sport of t atlition, und
sentiment, and popular enthusiism, and all thaf is
is (.rtuune and is not due to the mere restlessness of
int til« ctual disappointment with higher things II-»
has spukin with us much power against the
aspirations ot Irish tenant fanners, m favour
in Ireland, as ho has in England against the working
Becauso he regards the landlords of Ireland us a more
Bhrivvd, calculating prosperous class, possessed of a
fur keener sense ot the material value of property
his evidently keen aversion to tho working clissin
England? 1 hut hu regards thom as likdy to bo in-
fluenced by sentiment», ideas, enthusiasms, O >d
knows what, anythinx but obvious utilitarian calculi
tion " It is not tho educated and reflective,' he
speeches, "who nrc influenced b) id« is, but the hilf
educated and the uiircilcctive, und if jon shuv to
the ignorant, and poor, and hall educate 1, vv ron j,
injustice, and wickcdniss anv where, their generous
instincts use within thtm, and ta ¡thing is easier
than to got up a cn lu the redress of these
grievances '\\ o feel the injustice too, but we
look not merci) at the injustice itself, we look before
and after at tht collateral circumstances, at what must
woild, und we look also to what must hippen to the
ver) poor persons themselves before wo commit our
nlve» to a decided course Ptrsons, also, win have
something to lose arc less anxious to lose it th m those
who havo little at stoke often, even though thtse hut
HID) bv tlu IOSB bo reduced to absolute povertv ' In
other words, Mr Lowe is in fav 5ur of the class which
c loulatis most, and calculates b) preference its
material interests,-or, as he elsewhere calls it, the
middle ilttss, which Btands between tho very highest
m whom riches, pride, and high blood often subdue
tho poorest, in whom the sense of the value of pro
pert) in but halt developed, and unable to tight with
advantage against popular sentiment« and ideal
cnthuBiasms Mr Ixiwe showed the same strofg bias
m a still more remarkable form in lus curious «ulogy
as compared w ith the classical and logical or §urel)
»dentine lind intellectual culture of the Universities
Of the stud) of ancient languages he spok« con-
used by people roany thousand years ago, and con-
cerning which therei was much controversy, and no
certainly could be arrived at,"-while "theBtudies of
civil engineers were not only as wide as tile domain of
nature, but their area was continuai!) increasing with
a rapidity no one could gauge, llio civil engineers
day arrived when tho Universiuos, rising to the true
tional establishments, the science of engineering w ould
other branch of knowledge " Ino .tubular bridges,
enable us to make them, to tie thought of as the
noblcBL departments of human tcSture , and the
political constitution which moBt actively promotes
them-the political constitution which gives tho
greatest impulse lo physical prosperity and enter-
prise,-to be chcriBhcd as the highest achievement
utilitarian system of politics, can fail to be Btruck by
the stnls'-ng contrast between his political creed and
that of Mr. J, ¡5, Mill, the great champion of thç
utilitarian system fit ethics on which Mr Low, o
builds, tho most, deadlj antagonist oj lhoâfc principe
of intuitive morality and naulial justice against which
Mr Low e inv cighs, the most eminent exponent of thut
tcience of political economy by whieh Mr Lowe loves
sarcasm Ihe one mocks at failure, the other at that
like a man oi the world at the poorer classes, under
such as we hear of in Heinckt Fitchs, now, again, re-
aware ol their own power than " Curran's fltas, who,
out ol the bed " Mr Mill, on the other hand, strikes
is st great tribute to the enormous power of
the party , - or remarking on another occasion,
that though thp working classes made up 2G per cent
shaking our institutions, they so obstuiately persisted
m not doing it, that honourable gentlemen aie quite
alarmed, and recoil in terror from the ab)SB into which
they hove not fallen " lhere is the same contrast in
the" tone of the two men on their favourite common
science, political « conomy Mr. Lowe never fisses
an opportunity of making it enforce the principle ot
the "devil toke the hindmost," Mr Mill never
necessary to, progress , and that the lnghcBt state of
Bociety is very probably the stationary state, m wlncn
«o much IB gained for true moral leisure and generous
diflercnt sections of society to "higgle " for its divi-
sion Hie true diflercnce between the two men as
thinkers is that Mr Lowe, plunging deeply into the |
jelflsh struggles of th« world, end clambering with
tructively utilitarian Radical, who never hesitated to
strike at either privileges or rights in tho interest of
what he called "common sense," and who was
of that refined culture which tells on education in
directly, socially, and almost invisibly, and which
cannot be gauged by the size of schools or the success ,
of pupils. And they were right im their conception
of him, though wrong in withstanding him on that
particular measure But the time came when Mr ,
Lowe, without deviating a hairsbreadth from the
-has enlisted from the very ranks which then fought
most furiousy against him an enthusiastic follow-
ing, by making the very same principle tell, or
seem to tell, in favour of Conservatism, in favour of
the representative system as it is, and against all
change Nor has the consistency been only apparent
guided by the same idea, by calculations of tangible
and material prospenty as the test of political truth, and
has shown himself anxious to keep all the power he
can in the hands of the most calculating classes,—
the classes most alive and susceptible and tangible,
most indifferent and obtuse to spiritual and ideal, conse-
quences Of course there are, there alwavs must be,
plcnty of like minded men in the House, but what has
made Mr Iowo remarkable is the swift intellcctu ii
theoretic understanding, the imaginative vacacity,
tarian progress It is the curious flashes of
exquisite temper of the blade which springs from so
coarse a handle, the highly disciplined intellect which
makes light of high intellectual discipline, that give
the unique character to Mr Lowe's position For it
is not in Mr Lowe's misanthropic cynicism striking
a blow in disgust at its own heart, which induces him
to praise wealth, and property, and all that is tangible
in civilisation, while he makes sport of tradition, and
sentiment, and popular enthusiasm, and all that is
is genuine and is not due to the mere restlessness of
intellectual disappointment with higher things He
has spoken with as much power against the
aspirations of Irish tenant farmers, in favour
in Ireland, as he has in England against the working
Because he regards the landlords of Ireland as a more
shrewd, calculating prosperous class, possessed of a
far keener sense of the material value of property
his evidently keen aversion to tho working class in
England? That he regards them as likely to be in-
fluenced by sentiments, ideas, enthusiasms, God
knows what, anything but obvious utilitarian calcula-
tion " It is not the educated and reflective,' he
speeches, "who are influenced by ideas, but the half
educated and the unrcilective, and if you shuw to
the ignorant, and poor, and half educated, wrong,
injustice, and wickedniss anvwhere, their generous
instincts use within them, and nothing is easier
than to get up a cry for the redress of these
grievances. We feel the injustice too, but we
look not mercy at the injustice itself, we look before
and after at the collateral circumstances, at what must
world, and we look also to what must happen to the
very poor persons themselves before we commit our
selves to a decided course Persons, also, who have
something to lose are less anxious to lose it than those
who have little at stake often, even though these last
may by the lOSs be reduced to absolute poverty ' In
other words, Mr Lowe is in favour of the class which
calculates most, and calculates by preference its
material interests,—or, as he elsewhere calls it, the
middle class, which stands between tho very highest
in whom riches, pride, and high blood often subdue
tho poorest, in whom the sense of the value of pro-
perty is but half developed, and unable to fight with
advantage against popular sentiments and ideal
enthusiasms Mr Iowe showed the same strong bias
im a still more remarkable form in his curious eulogy
as compared with the classical and logical or surely
scentinc and intellectual culture of the Universities
Of the study of ancient languages he spoke con-
used by people many thousand years ago, and con-
cerning which there was much controversy, and no
certainty could be arrived at,"—while "the studies of
civil engineers were not only as wide as the domain of
nature, but their area was continuaiy increasing with
a rapidity no one could gauge, Tho civil engineers
day arrived when tho Universities, rising to the true
tional establishments, the science of engineering would
other branch of knowledge " The tubular bridges,
enable us to make them, to be thought of as the
noblest departments of human culture , and the
political constitution which most actively promotes
them—the political constitution which gives tho
greatest impulse to physical prosperity and enter-
prise,—to be cherished as the highest achievement
utilitarian system of politics, can fail to be struck by
the strikng contrast between his political creed and
that of Mr. J, S, Mill, the great champion of the
utilitarian system of ethics on which Mr Lowe
builds, tho most deadly antagonist of those principles
of intuitive morality and natural justice against which
Mr Lowe invcighs, the most eminent exponent of that
science of political economy by which Mr Lowe loves
sarcasm The one mocks at failure, the other at that
like a man of the world at the poorer classes, under
such as we hear of in Reineke Fuchs, now, again, re-
aware of their own power than " Curran's fleas, who,
out of the bed " Mr Mill, on the other hand, strikes
is a great tribute to the enormous power of
the party ;— or remarking on another occasion,
that though the working classes made up 26 per cent
shaking our institutions, they so obstinately persisted
in not doing it, that honourable gentlemen are quite
alarmed, and recoil in terror from the abyss into which
they have not fallen " There is the same contrast in
the tone of the two men on their favourite common
science, political economy Mr. Lowe never raises
an opportunity of making it enforce the principle of
the "devil take the hindmost," Mr Mill never
necessary to, progress ; and that the highest state of
society is very probably the stationary state, im wlhch
so much is gained for true moral leisure and generous
different sections of society to "higgle " for its divi-
sion The true difference between the two men as
thinkers is that Mr Lowe, plunging deeply into the
selflsh struggles of the world, and clambering with

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