The Liberal Union Club gave on Wednesday night a dinner
to Mr. Balfour. Mr. Chamberlain, who was in the chair, spoke of Mr. Balfour in words which were evidently heartfelt, and which were, in our opinion, in no way exaggerated. When he spoke of Mr. Balfour's "transparent sincerity and sim- plicity of character, and his generosity to his opponents, and his chivalrous loyalty to his friends," he said no more than the truth. It is highly significant that Mr. Chamberlain went on to declare that Mr. Balfour's colleagues "find it a privilege to work with him and would find it an honour to serve under him." But for this, the various speeches of Mr. Balfour, the Duke of Devonshire, and Lord Halsbury, though eloquent, were a little conventional, as is hardly avoidable at a function primarily meant to be congratulatory. It was clear, however, that the fusion of the two elements in the Unionist party in matters of opinion is now practically complete, though doubtless the two organisations may remain for some time yet. Mr. Balfour declared that whenever any differences of opinion have occurred in the Unionist party during the last fourteen years, they have never followed or corresponded with the cleavage between Liberal Unionists and Tories, but have invariably run across both sections. All who know anything of the working of the alliance will entirely confirm Mr. Balfour's statement in this respect.
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