On Tuesday Mr. Chamberlain delivered a brilliant speech at Birmingham
on the Unionist position, of which we have given some of the most pungent points in another column. He commented on the great reluctance of the Government to face a Dissolution, and said that it reminded him of the oriminal who was "not in great haste that the show should begin," and who-
" Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart, And often took leave, but was loath to depart."
They did not care to carry unpretending measures which they could have carried, but cared much more " to punish some- body than to benefit anybody." They were losing ground steadily in the country, and dropped with one band the few votes they had scraped up with the other. Mr. Chamberlain quoted Lord Salisbury's speech at Bradford to show how heartily the Tory leader supported the Social reforms with which he himself is identified. The Government had done those things which they wished not to do, and had left undone those things which they had specially desired to accomplish ; and as they professed to have been acting from the most un- selfish motives, a grateful country could hardly do better than " relieve them as speedily as possible from an undignified and humiliating situation."
