Nor will Mr. Alfred Austin's, who spoke later, and who
maintained that "the tendency of mature intellect is towards Conservatism," on the ground that Mr. Froude is a Conservative of the anti-Irish kind, and Matthew Arnold a Conservative of the anti-Dissenting kind. We do not exactly know why mild scorn for Philistinism should be called Conservative. . So far as we remember Mr. Arnold's views on the regeneration of Ire- land, they were Radical far beyond the Radicalism of Mr. Gladstone. • The truth is that "mature intellect," tempered by fear, is Conservative ; while "mature intellect," tempered by sympathy and hope, is Liberal. But the same probably may be said of immature intellect. The maturity a the intellect affects the clearness, the finish, the adequacy of the political creed ; but does not affect its general direction.
Previous page
