Mr. Courtney made an interesting speech at Bodmin on Wednesday,
in which he offered a carefully reasoned estimate of Lord Rosebery. He regarded him evidently as a great Opportunist, or, as he put it, " a child of circumstances." " There were persons so great that they rose superior to circumstances, but there were other men who accepted the circumstances of their life, and moulded their action accord- ingly. Lord Rosebery was a man who accepted, recognised, and obeyed what appeared to be necessary." He himself had heard his first speech as Premier in the Lords, and was much moved by his declaration as to the "predominant partner." It was found however that the Irish did not like it, and Lord Rosebery at Edinburgh explained it away. If he meant what he said at Edinburgh, which was that England must be further converted, why did he say he was in complete agreement with Lord Salisbury, who undoubtedly did not mean that ? As a matter of fact, while Mr. Gladstone was a Home-ruler, with a full belief that Home-rule would put England and Ireland right, Lord Rosebery was a Home-ruler only because he did not see any better plan. " He is a cynic, cool, self-possessed, wary." That is an intelligent estimate, and will have great weight ; but we doubt the wariness, and suspect in Lord Rosebery some quality which at present only " animates the whole," like the salad-maker's onion, but which, in some moment of emotion, will be seen to dominate the mind.
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