Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, who,—in spite of a certain rigidity of
mind which occasionally leads him into false positions, like that of his unhappy commentary on the "dirty trick" of March 15th,—is probably more likely than any other Conserva- tive to succeed Sir Stafford Northcote, should Sir Stafford Northcote's health compel him to retire from the Conservative Leadership, delivered a little epilogue on the second reading of the Franchise Bill, at Tetbury, on Wednesday. He had not much to say, except that the division showed "the Kilmainham Treaty" to be still in force,—but what, by the way, did the "dirty trick" show P—and that the great majority of Monday only proved how profound is the Liberal fear of a General Election. In order to put off the evil day of political judgment, they keep to- gether in strict phalanx. We never before thought Sir Michael Beach crafty, but we fear he is contracting something of the subtlety of the serpent. If the majority had been small, in con- sequence of Liberal desertions, would he have inferred that the Liberals did not fear the political judgment of the country P If not, then whether they vote straight, or whether they vote crooked, the same inference is to be drawn. That is blowing hot and cold, with a vengeance.
Previous page
