We have dealt at length elsewhere with Mr. Brodrick's speech
on Wednesday at the City Carlton Club, and will only say here that its effect in the country has been excellent, and that it has been received with something like general pleasure and satisfaction. We are delighted, because we have confidence in Mr. Brodrick's power and will to serve his country, and because we believe his actions are sound; but we cannot help being a little surprised at the way in which a good speech is received as if it were something done rather than something said. If we are to be depressed when a Minister makes a bad speech, and elated when he makes a good one, we shall be in danger of treating oratory as if it were action. Mr. Brodrick's speech, we are glad to note, contained a defence of that much-maligned force, the new Yeomanry. Only three hundred and fifty men were sent home out of seventeen thousand, and yet Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman actually spoke of thousands of useless men being sent out. Surely the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We shall not condemn the Yeomanry till we hear of their being captured in batches or refusing to do their duty as soldiers. Till then they are as worthy of honour, and should receive as much honour, as any corps in the Serviee. Mr. Brodriek should see to it that the good service of the new Yeomanry shall not go unrecognised. We trust that when an opportunity arises he will publish a record of the doings of the force.
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