I have seen him do this
even when the fortune of a most important amendment seemed to lie
trembling in the balance--the one occasion on which I have known him to
break through that rigid rule was when his son was about to make that
maiden speech which started that promising young fellow on his
Parliamentary career. Coming back like a giant refreshed about ten
o'clock, Mr. Chamberlain contrived to once more set aflame the embers of
dying passion; and he threw himself into the fight over Lord Wolmer's
amendment at the moment when all life seemed to have gone out of it. His
speech was full of cleverness--of what the Americans call smartness, and
it had all that point, personal and party, which sets your friends in a
roar. The Tories cheered him vociferously, and point after point of
brilliant and effective invective pleased the House--always anxious with
its jaded appetite for a sensation. But when you had time to compare, it
with that little speech delivered by Mr. Gladstone earlier in the
evening--when you contrasted its fitful and gaudy brilliancy with the
sober and broad wisdom of Mr. Gladstone's utterance--then, indeed, you
were able to see what a gulf there is between the smart debater and the
genuine statesman.
Pages:
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294