The general impression which we cannot help deriving from the
debate is that while the Unionist peers showed them- selves on the whole open-minded and prepared to accept new ideas, the Liberals fell back on a dogged and unreasoning conservatism as their sole argument against Lord. Balfour's proposal. We cannot resist quoting once more a few sentences from Sydney Smith's delightful "Noodle's Oration," scarcely a word of which would have seemed out of place in the speeches made by supporters of the Government ha this week's debate:— "What would our ancestors say to this, Sir? How does this measure tally with their institutions ? How does it agree with
their experience P If this measure be right, would it have escaped the wisdom of those Saxon progenitors to whom we are indebted for so many of our best political institutions Would the Dane have passed it over P Would the Norman have rejected it ? The business is one of the greatest importance ; there is need for the greatest caution and circumspection. Do not let us be precipitate, Sir ; it is impossible to foresee all con- sequences."
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