Above all things the speech
gave the impression of one who spoke from the inside--who knew the
subjects of which he was talking, not merely in their general aspects,
but in their dark recesses--in their latent passion--in their awful and
appalling depths. It was while this fine speech was being delivered that
the other and the darker side of Mr. Chamberlain's nature was to be
seen. There are no such enmities as those between relatives or former
friends; and so it apparently is between Mr. Chamberlain and Mr.
Morley--though it should be said most of the bitterness of the hatred
seems to be on the one side. While Mr. Morley is speaking there is a
frown on the face of Mr. Chamberlain that never lifts. Now and then, the
sulky and sullen and frowning silence was broken by an observation
evidently of bitter scornfulness addressed to Sir Henry James, and once
there seemed even to be an angry interchange between him and Mr.
Courtney because Mr. Courtney had ventured to put a civil question to
Mr. Morley. Mr. Morley had to address a few words of hearty
congratulation to Mr. Austen Chamberlain on his very successful speech.
He spoke with the slowness, hesitation, and effort that betrayed a
certain glimpse of the pain and grief that the political separations of
life produce in all but the hardest and coldest natures.
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