The Mineral argus., 1885-05-14

As Exhibited In .3hs Houis Of Commons
Gladstone and Bright.
From Paper by Justin Mccarthy.
The eloquence Of the House Of Com
mons is curiously conventional in its
character. 1t is peculiar; it is local; it
IAN hardly be appreciated by one not
familiar with the place and the ways.
A stranger is almost always disappointed
with our Parliamentary speaking more
90 with the House of Commons. | think,
than with the House of Lords. The allu-
,ions. the illustrations, the hits that tell
best in the House of Commons would not
be understood by any one not well &C.
1uaiuted with all that is going on in
English public life. We seldom or never
hear in the House Of Commons, now,
. passage of sustained eloquence
which would be interesting for its
own sake; for its beauty of language.
its power, or its pathos, the very size
and shape of the chamber are unfavOra-
BILE to the higher order ofeloquence and
are distinctly encouraging to the close
and clever practical debater. We sci.
dom now have great principles to deal
with. The business CT the House Of
Commons is mainly practical, not tc
rbo most aioouent and powerful dc.
h.tor IN tLe Horse of Commons IL Mr..
Giodstoue. ,,evond all comparison. IL we
taLe him for ali his remarkable qualities
auencv. readiness. resources Of argu-
ment and Of language. voice, delivery,
manner. dramatic gesture, variety Of
tone. style. phrase, I am inclined to
doubt whether he is not the greatest de-
batter who ever sat in the House of Com
mons. But he is certainly not the great
est orator sometimes feel inclined to
question whether he is an orator at all
At the most should call him par
liamentary orator; House of Commons
orator. His speeches will not be read.
Even now in his own lifetime speech
of his is not read after its immediate oc
casion has passed away. Mr.. Gladston,
is only to he appreciated by those wht
hear him. have often heard innocent
wonder expressed at the fact that one
who is so great a speaker should not b'
a particularly good writer. But any
body who listens to one OF MIR. Glad
stones speeches and observes how th'
involved sentences are made clear b,
the speakers mastery OF tone. infiectio.
of tone and gesture will readily under
stand WIN written essay from MIR
Gladstone should not he very cas-.
reading. OF late years, indeed, the fine
qualities of Mr.. Gladstone's voice ar
often wanting. Sometimes 1t become
almost feeble; sometimes the speaker
indistinctly heard. There was a tine
and that not long ago, whel
every word. every syllable, swept easil
over all parts of the House of Commons
and the most distant listener in Tin
most inconvenient gallery never had (
trouble himself by any anxiety lest h
should lose one phrase of the author
eloauence. Years must tell; one can
not pass seventy aud lose nothing. MI
Gladstone is marvellous man for Iii
age: and. EXCEPT in voice, / do no
think lie has suffered as speaker
He is As ready. rs varied, as full Of re
source. as rhetorical and rich in Ian
guoge as no ever was. So muaI; cahno
he said of Mr.. Bright. AT one tim
Mr.. Bright stood distinctly above Nj,
Gladstone aa an orator. he n. ver mr.
nroocLed hin, az dictator Nj,
Br;cL.'s WINS a nurer and Ioftier eIo
ouence. AMI like Mr.. Gladstone's
ros o;ded Inv n voice of noble ouality
a voice which Lent itself 10 every emo
ion 81 poss;on of natbos of hnmor n
scOrn. MIR. Bright voice now Is aImOs