Mr. Balfour delivered two spirited speeches at Edinburgh on Tuesday,
in which he certainly appeared to be in much better spirits than the leaders of the Ministerial and (for the present) the triumphant party. In the morning speech, he pointed out how the Scotch love of the National Church is bringing the Scotch electorate into sympathy with the Constitutional Party, and may even be preparing the way for a reunion among the Presbyterian Churches, which are Churches of one theology, though they temporarily differ on the beat relations be- tween Church and State. He promised the present Govern- ment his hearty support, if they would but abandon the role of destructive politicians and devote their attention to those
sober and moderate social reforms which ought to be kept out of the region of party issues. Of this resolve, however, Mr. Balfour did not profess to entertain any hope ; nor do we think he or any other politician could long endure to support an Administration which got into power by promises which it immediately determined not to redeem. Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues are far too honourable, and, to say the truth, far too full of hot political convictions and passions, for such a course as that. Mr. Balfour's expectation that his duties as leader of Opposition, when Parliament meets, will be "of a more critical character" than any consistent with benignant support or even benignant neutrality, is sure to be fulfilled.
Previous page
