It was a
graceful, generous, feeling tribute, but it did not soften Mr.
Chamberlain--the same steady unlifting frown was there--the same
"puss"--and when Mr. Morley had finished, there was a repetition of the
evidently scornful comment of Mr. Chamberlain.
[Sidenote: A hit at Mr. Chamberlain.]
But Mr. Morley may well bear all this, for he was able to strike some
very effective blows at Mr. Chamberlain, and Mr. Chamberlain for a
hard-hitter has a wonderfully keen appreciation and a very sensitive
skin for anything like a dexterous hit at his own expense. Alluding to
the favourite argument of Mr. Chamberlain, that the speeches of Irish
members in the past may have been deplorable, Mr. Morley asked were they
the only people who had made such speeches? They might be repentant
sinners, but who so great a prodigal as the member for Birmingham? The
loud and triumphant laughter which this produced at the expense of Mr.
Chamberlain, was followed up by another even more victorious thrust. The
Irish members had abandoned prairie value in the same way as the member
for Birmingham had surrendered the doctrines of "ransom" and natural
rights. Mr.
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