Sir Charles Dilke, being invited on Monday night to address
the Ancient Order of Foresters, at Hammersmith Town Hall, in a political, but not in a party speech, found no difficulty in dis- charging his task, by firing volleys into both parties in turns ; but as we have elsewhere shown, his attacks on the Tories were chiefly attacks on measures, while his attacks on the Liberals were attaoks on men, and somewhat bitter ones. He began by indulging in somewhat vain aspirations that our country could' secure as the heads of the great administrative offices any men, even though of opposite parties, who are fitted for the posts, remarking on the advantage which Russia gains by being able to entrust the Foreign Secretaryship to so thorough a Con- servative as Prince Gortschakoff, and at the same time, the head of the War Department to so thorough a Radical as General Mfiontine. He praised the personnel of the Tory Administration, and sneered at the front Bench of Opposition, but went on immediately to attack keenly the Government Licensing Act of last Session, pointing out that the change from eleven to ten as the closing-hour in places that are not populous,' would make it quite natural to talk of striking "Cross," as country publicans used to talk of striking "Bruce," since the Roman numeral for ten is a Cross. He Wh:3 very bitter also on the proposed Friendly Societies Bill ; declared, very erroneously and unfairly, that in relation to the Public Worship Bill, Mr. Gladstone had chalked up "No coercion," and had then run away ; and finally, ended his rhythmically-balanced
thrusts at Liberal and Tory, by suggesting that Mr. Disraeli might perhaps find some difficulty in getting rid of Lord Salis- bury even when he wishes to do so, since Lord. Salisbury, and not Mr. Disraeli, is held responsible for the- Conservatiem of- the-Government by genuine Conservatives, and might reply, like the negro servant to the Southern gentleman in the Washington hotel, when told that he might retire, "'Souse me, ash, but I's,
for de spoons." The speech, cleverly adapted to make Toymeaasres look ridiculous, and Liberal statesmen contemptible, was$ of course, received with enthusiasm. An elector who is both furnished with solid weapons against his foes, and also helped to look down apon his allies, is naturally in his glory,—and all the -werse. far Saw so.
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