The Unionists might rage--the Tories
might obstruct--faction might bellow its throat hoarse--Orangemen swear
that they would die rather than see Home Rule--for all that, nobody
could get over this great fact, of which I saw the palpable evidence at
that solemn and historic hour.
But if for a few brief moments one was inclined to abandon oneself to
the intoxication of this great hour, there was plenty to bring one very
quickly back to solid earth, and to the sense of the long, dreary, and
thorny road which Home Rule has yet to traverse.
Time after time Mr. Chamberlain gets up to continue the obstructive
debate. Gravelled for matter, he clutches any topic as a means of
lengthening the thin chain of his discourse. Mr. Redmond--the Parnellite
leader--happens to be for a few moments out of the House. Here at once,
and with eager welcome, Mr. Chamberlain seizes upon this fact to string
a few sentences together--something after this fashion:--"I observe that
the hon. and learned member for Waterford is not in his place. This is
very remarkable. Indeed, I may go further and say that this is a most
sinister fact. For we all know what the hon.
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