Mr. Chamberlain made a very effective speech on Tuesday to
a social meting of the chairmen and secretaries of the wards and divisions of the Birmingham Liberal Unionist Association, held at the offices of the Association. He spoke with the utmost confidence on the victory he looked for in Birmingham, and very hopefully of the general prospect throughout the country. The great recent improvement in the prospect he ascribed partly to the natural effect of the immediate approach of the General Election in fixing the attention of the country on the main issue between the Unionists and their opponents,—namely, the Irish Question,— partly to the disclosure of the divisions between the different sections of the Irish Party, and the growing evidence that Home-rule, as originally conceived and proposed by Mr. Gladstone, would bring dissension and not peace to Ireland. Again, he thought that the Gladstonians had rather over- reached themselves in the bids they had made for popular support. Spendthrifts, it is said, are always ready to make promises, because they know that they cannot be compelled to keep their promises, and the Gladstonian promises had been scattered so profusely as to give a general impression of being verbal only. Especially Mr. Gladstone had shown himself too eager to adapt himself to expectations which at first be had distinctly discouraged in relation to legislative interference with the hours of labour, writing humbly to the Federation to be provided with the facts on which they based their case, and when they declined to send him their brief, declaring that be had acquainted himself with it, and asking for an interview in a manner that suggested his desire to be accommodating, after the fashion of the American stump-orator who said : "These are my opinions, gentlemen, and if you don't like them, they can be changed." All this repentant eagerness to
meet popular demands half-way, excited more distrust than confidence.
