Gladstone's Government were in the heartiest
accord. This was one of the semi-official denials which are generally
regarded as the best testimony to the truth of the report denied.
[Sidenote: Mr. Morley.]
If one were on the look-out for dramatic and instructive contrast in the
House of Commons, one could not do better than study Mr. Morley and Mr.
Chamberlain for a week. Mr. Chamberlain--glib, shallow, self-possessed,
well-trained by years of public life--debates admirably. Nobody can deny
that--not even those who, like myself, find his speaking exasperatingly
empty and superficial and foolish. He is master of all his resources;
scarcely ever pauses for a word, and when he is interrupted, can parry
the stroke with a return blow of lightning-like rapidity. But when he
sits down, is there any human being that feels a bit the wiser or the
better for what he has said? And who can get over the idea that it has
all been a bit of clever special pleading--such as one could hear in
half-a-dozen courts of law any day of the week? And, finally, who is
there that can help feeling throughout all the speech that this is a
selfish nature--full of venom, ambition, and passion--seeing in
political conflict not great principles to advance--holy causes to
defend--happiness to extend--but so many enemies' faces to grind to
dust?
Mr.
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