I
shouldn't be surprised if he became in time even a better debater than
his father. His education, I should say, is broader and deeper, his
mind finer, and his temper sweeter and more under control. During the
latter portion of the speech his father's face had a smile, pleasant to
behold; one could forgive him a great deal of his hardness, rancour,
even ferocity, for this manifestation--open and frank--of kindly
human-feeling.
[Sidenote: And angry.]
But, as I have said, there was another manifestation of Mr. Chamberlain
in the course of this very evening. Shortly before ten o'clock Mr.
Morley rose to make his reply. It was twenty minutes to ten when he
rose. It was close upon midnight when he sate down. And yet there wasn't
one word too many--indeed, Mr. Morley might have gone even longer
without wearying the House, for it was a speech which, although not free
from some of the besetting weaknesses of his oratory, was an eloquent,
impressive and convincing addition to the great argument on the Irish
question. Giving himself a certain freedom--departing from the
over-severe self-restraint which he so often imposes upon
himself--abandoning the frigidity of manner which conceals from so many
people his warmth of heart and of temper, he spoke with a go, a fire and
a force of attack not very common with him.
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