Temperamentally he stands very
high. A brief description of his methods of obstruction will bring this
home. First, it should be said that he is entirely inarticulate and,
beyond rough common sense, destitute of ideas. He has nothing to say,
and he cannot say it. There are men in the House of Commons who have
plenty of thoughts, and who have plenty of words besides, and could
branch out on any subject whatever into a dissertation which would
command the interest even of political foes. But Jimmy is not of this
class. He is capable, on the contrary, of bringing down the loftiest
subject that ever moved human breasts to something stumbling,
commonplace and prosaic. When he gets up, then, his speech consists
rather of a series of gulps than of articulate or intelligible
statements. But then mark the singular courage and audacity of the whole
proceeding. There are traditions still in the House of Commons of the
marvellously stimulating effect upon followers of leaders, who were
proverbial for their oratorical impotence. Everybody remembers the
scornful description of Castlereagh which Byron gave to the world; and
yet it has been said in some memoirs that the moment Castlereagh stood
up and adjusted his waistcoat, there was a thrill in the House of
Commons, and his followers bellowed their exultation and delight.
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