No doubt the Conservatives have been as much surprised as
overjoyed to find out what numbers they can muster, but neither the surprise nor the joy is very reasonable. So long as there is a great party on one side, there will always, in such a country as England, be a considerable party which is offended and irritated into opposition by the mere revulsion which every strong feeling causes in mindsnot prepared to receive it, and aggrieved at being asked for sympathy. If the majority only say "educate," there is immediately found a minority to complain of the excessive value attached to education; and perhaps it is well that it should be so. You might as well express
surprise and joy that every electric current excites a counter- current in close proximity to it, as that the energy and activity of every political party stimulates the energy and activity of a party opposed to it.
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