Lord Salisbury, on Wednesday and Thursday, made two seri- ous
speeches at Manchester, the general drift of which we have discussed elsewhere. The object of the first was to represent the policy of the Government in Egypt as a failure. The Government was always too late, acting with spasmodic energy only after unexpected catastrophes, and keeping up a system of internal management which, but for the misery it entailed, might be called "a screaming farce." They neglected ptestige, which enabled men to act without force ; preached peace 'and concession, and then were compelled to slaughter thousands needlessly. He himself believed that we should remain in Egypt for as long a period as politicians usually concern themselves with ; and his policy would be, without saying any- thing about methods, to give Egypt a firm and stable govern- ment. "It was not, however, a policy that was wanted, but a workman to carry it out." He felt sure a change of policy was the wish of nine Englishmen in ten, though, under the influ- ence of the caucus, "ha was forced to think that some foreign craven race had forced its way into the House of Commons."
