Mr. Chamberlain was rather happy in his remarks on Sir
William Harcourt, of whom he said that in 1887, at the Round Table Conference, he was desirous to accept the "provincial" government compromise which Mr. Chamberlain proposed. Mr. Chamberlain thought the lines,— " Still violent, whatever cause he took, But most against the party he forsook," very applicable to Sir William Harcourt, but he had hopes of him yet : "It is a long time since he last changed, and I think it is time for him to turn again." And Mr. Chamberlain was severe on Mr. Gladstone. He said that there were many people who expected Mr. Gladstone to give them free education, local option, a more advanced crofter measure, and the Disestab- lishment of the Welsh Church, but that Mr. Gladstone would consider none of these things. If Mr. Gladstone returned to power, Irish Home-rule would be found to have swallowed them all up. Session after Session would be consumed in the effort to carry barren Home-rule Bills, and perhaps in the attempt, from time to time, to pass Coercion Bills for Ulster. Therefore, said Mr. Chamberlain, all true Liberals would be disposed to support the Unionist Party, for the Unionists do carry genuinely Liberal measures, though in small numbers and moderate in kind, while the Gladstonians can carry none. And to a true Liberal, half a loaf is better than no bread. While Mr. Chamberlain was delivering this spirited speech, a great Gladstonian counter-demonstration was got up in Union Square, in which Lord Hartington's political conduct was condemned, and he was said to have for- feited the confidence of the electors of Rossendale by his Parliamentary course. And so the ball rolls on, the Glad- stonians voting for boycotters and boycotting Liberals ; while Conservatives rally round the Liberals and neutralise the boycotters' votes.
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