Sir William Harcourt is now Member for Derby, in place
of Mr. Plimsoll, and it is even proposed that in case a petition results in unseating Mr. Hall for Oxford, Mr. Plimsoll should contest Oxford, which would be very much like a game of political puss-in-the-corner. On Saturday, Sir W. Harcourt addressed the electors of Derby, expressing plenty of penitence for his former jokes, and promising to take lessons of a dull friend of his, who had assured him that if he would only be a little duller, he would do pretty well, as it is dullness which inspires confidence. He exposed well the favourite Conservative asser- tion of the hour, that the Liberals are accepting meekly the Tory foreign policy. So far is this from the truth, that they are pressing hard the very opposite policy, the policy of uniting Europe to insist on Turkish reforms; and that Lord Salisbury, who sees the contrast, is extremely wrath with the new line of action. In his usual biting language, said Sir William Har- court, Lord Salisbury declares the discordant character of the intentions of the European Powers, and. calls them an orchestra who love to play out of tune. But if so, asked the Home Secretary, what becomes of the Treaty of Berlin P A treaty among. the Powers of Europe means nothing, if the Powers of Europe are not really and heartily agreed to enforce its terms. In truth, it was Lord Salisbury himself who had struck the discordant note in the Councils of Europe—as regarded the Greek question, for instance—and now that Lord Salisbury is removed, and that Lord Granville has become con- ductor, the concert may become real.
