Before we leave the subject of the division we must
say something of the composition of the minority of 114 who followed Lord Halsbury. The list contains undoubtedly many honoured and distinguished names, such as those of the Dukes of Norfolk, Bedford, and Northumberland, Lord Salisbury, Lord Selborne, Lord Roberts, Lord Waldegrave, Lord Llandaff, Lora Milner, Lord Atkinson, Lord Lovat, and Lord Northcote. We have not a word to say against the motives that actuated the followers of Lord Halsbury in the House of Lords. We believe they were acting purely on what they believed to be the ground of public duty. No doubt a desire to break away from the leadership of Lord Lansdowne and Mr. Balfour inspired a certain part of the move- ment, but this, too, though we think it greatly mistaken, was not in any sense base, but rested on conviction.
