We cannot leave the debate without drawing special atten- tion
to the speech of Lord Curzon, who has behaved with statesmanship and courage throughout the difficult and anxious situation of the last three weeks. He pointed out that the Halsburyite group were a small minority of the whole House and a minority of the party to which they belong. As the result of the division 400 peers might be created. " If that is done the Constitution is gone. You are on a new platform. You will have to start afresh. God knows how we shall do it." Upon this Lord Bristol inter- rupted : " That is because 400 peers are going to run away to-night." "I would sooner," retorted Lord Curzon, "run away with the Duke of Wellington than stand with the noble lord." After a very short, and we are bound to say extra- ordinarily ineffective, speech from Lord Halsbury, Lord Selborne wound up the debate. The question, he declared, was " Shall we perish in the dark by our own hand, or in the light, killed by our enemies P "
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