It rang out a note of perfect
confidence--of early and complete victory--of righteous trust in a
righteous cause. And the House which had followed the great orator in
rapt attention so long could not tire of cheering this glowing and
inspiring end. For several minutes the cheers were given--and again
given, and again. Meantime, poor Mr. Courtney had been standing--waiting
for silence. To him had been entrusted the task of moving the rejection
of the measure. He was dull, pedantic, and rather embarrassed after this
great effort of Mr. Gladstone, and the House emptied. There was a
certain stir of curiosity as the name of "Mr. Disraeli" was called by
the Speaker; and then the bearer of one of the greatest names of our
times, stood up. His speech was brightish, cleverish, and yet there was
something wanting. Mr. Redmond was critical, cautious, severe on the
financial clauses, but finally pronounced for the Bill. And so we
started the first day of final debate on the Home Rule Bill.
[Sidenote: The last lap.]
There was no doubt about it; the House was thoroughly jaded, and it
would have been beyond the power of the most Demosthenic orator to rouse
it to anything like enthusiasm.
Pages:
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413