DISRAELI'S MAIDEN SPEECH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 279, 6 September 1878, Page 5

DISRAELI'S MAIDEN SPEECH.

Now that Lord Beaconsfield has reached the top round of the political ladder, anything relating to his earlier ventures in political life must prove interesting, and, taking this view of the case, an English contemporary reproduces Mr. Benjamin Disraeli's first speech in the House of Commons. It was made in 1837, in reply to an attack of Daniel O'Connell upon Sir F. Burdett for deserting the Liberal cause. Mr. Disraeli said :— " I stand here to-night, sir— (here the noise in the House became so general that the honourable gentleman could not proceed for some time ; when the confusion had somewhat subsided, he said) : I stand here to-night, sir, not formally, but in some degree virtually, the representative of a considerable number of members of Parliament (bursts of laughter). Now why smile (continued laughter) ? Why envy me (here the laughter became general)? Why should I not have a tale to unfold to-night (roars of laughter) 1 Do you forget that band ol one hundred and fi'ty-eight— those ingenuous and inexperienced youths to whose unsophisticated minds the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in those tones of winning pathos— (excessive laughter, and loud cries of " Question ")— now, a considerable misconception exists in the minds of many members on this side of the House as to the conduct of her Majesty's government with regard to these elections, and I wish to remove it. I will not twit the noble lord opposite with opinions which are not ascribable to him. or to his more immediate supporters, but which were expressed by the more popular section of his party some few months back (question, question). About that time, sir, when the bell of our cathedral announced the death of the monarch (oh, oh ! and much laughter)— we all read then, sir (groans and cries of " Oh I ")— we all then read— (laughter -and great interruption). I know nothing which to me is more delightful than to show courtesy to a new member, particularly if he happens to appeal to me from the party opposed to myself (hear, hear). At that time we read that it was the death-knell of Toryism, that the doom of that party was sealed, that their funeral obsequies were about to be consummated (laughter). We were told that, with the dissolution of that much vilified Parliament, which the right honourable baronet had called together, the hopes and prospects of the Tories would be thrown forever to the winds (laughter), and that affairs were again brought exactly to what they were at the period when the hurried Mr. Hudson rushed into the chambers of the Vatican (immense laughter). Ido not impute these sanguine hopes to the noble lord himself particularly, because I remember that, shortly afterwards, the noble lor J, as if to check the new and sanguine expectations of his followers, came forward with a manifesto informing them that the Tories could not expire in a moment, but the Ministry in a reform Parliament might depend upon having a working majority of one hundred, which was to be extended upon great occasions to one hundred and twenty-five and one hundred and thirty, Now sir (question, question), this is the question, and I am going to ask the noble lord for our instruction (oh, oh ! and great interruption), We only wish to kuow this simple fact, whether the great occasion on which the working majority was to increase from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five or one hundred and thirty, is upon the question of an election ballot (cheers and groans), and whether the Grenville Act has not been given forth to the people that it is impossible that an impartial tribunal can be obtained in this House ? (oh, oh ! question, question). If honourable members think it is fair thus to interrupt me, I will submit (great laughter). I would not act so to any one, that is all I can say (laughter, and cries of " Go on "). But I beg simply to ask (oh 1 and laughter). Nothing is so easy as to laugh (laughter). I really wish to place before the House what is our position. When we remember all this — when we remember all that, in spite of the support of the honourable gentlemen, the member for Dublin, and his well-disciplined phalanx of patriots, and, in spite of all this, we remember the amatory eclogue (roars of laughter), the old loves and new loves that took place between the noble lord, the Tityrus of the Treasury Bench, and the learned Daphne of Liskcard (loud laughter and cries of " Question ") which appeared as a fresh instance of the amoris redinte'g ratio (excessive laughter), when we remember at the same time that, with emancipated Ireland and enslaved England, on the one hand a triumphant nation, on the other a groaning people, and notwithstanding the noble lord, secure on the pedestal of power, may wield in one hand the keys of St. Peter, and (here the honourable member was interrupted with such loud and incessant bursts of laughter that it was impossible to know whether he really closed his sentence or not). The honourable member concluded in these words :— Now, Mr. Speaker, we see the philosophical prejudices of man (laughter and cheers). I respect cheers even when they come from the lips of political opponents (renewed laughter). I think, sir (hear, hear, and repeated cries of " Question, question ") — I am not at all surprised, sir, at the reception which I have received (continued laughter). I have begun several times many things (laughter), and I have succeeded at last (fresh cries of " Question "). Ay, sir. and though I sit down now, the time will come when you will hear me. The honourable member delivered the last sentence in a very loud tone, and resumed his seat amidst cheers from the Opposition, and much laughter from the Ministerial benches.