The Irish standard., 1886-04-17
NUMBER "A.

dissent, Indignation, scorn. elatlon. No
great actor ever knew better how
to show forth more varied feelings in
all their intensity on his face. And
then to see him nod his head, or SLOW
ly shake it, in response to some con-
troyersial assertion! Lord Burleigh's
nod could not have been more subt]y
eloquent. When he rises to his feet
great hush falls over the House. 1t
would not be exact to say that all eyes
are turned upon him, because he is at
all times the focus Of observation, but
a light of interested expectancy comes
into every face. He begins i'll low
tone of voice, but there is such abso-
lutte silence that his first words are
never inaudible and rarely indistinct.
He has been making notes during the
speech he is to answer, but he will not
refer to them once he is on his feet.
His form, as he stands at the side OF
the table, upon which he lightly rests
one hand, does not seem us tall as it
really is, so delicately is it propor-
toned. ! wish there were words III
which to convey the sound and fibre OF
his voice, for until you are able TO as
sociate this with your image OF the
man the mental picture fails. 1t is un-
like any other voice, just as Sarah
BeYnhardt's is; it has in itself the
power OF generating new sensations,
new thoughts in the listeners mind.;; it
seems to have something of prlmordlat
weirdness in it's suggestions--like Che
ocean or the s'forest primeval." Of ora
tory, as such, there will not be much.
There will be nothing at all to recall
Wendell Phillips OF Webster, OF to
suggest CASTELAR, Or Gambetta. 1t is
not even the eloQuence OF Bright or OF
Joseph Cowen. There are no gestures,
save limited movements with one hand;
there are no swelling outbursts OF the
voice. no tricks Of rounded elocution-
ary periods. One feels only at the out
set that great man is terribly in earn
est then, as the slow, careful, logical
sweep of speech goes on, one feels that
this earnestness is contagi ous-one
catches its spirit, hangs approvingly
upon its development, thrills with en-
thusiasm at it's climax of conclusions.
The great orators whom [ have named
could electrify a legislative assembly,
play upon its emotions at will, blanch
its cheeks, quicken its pulses,
command it's widest plaudits-but
after the speech was over the votes
would be cast just as If it had not been
made. There are no such physical ex-
elements in listening to Mr.. Gladstone.
He does not storm your senses-he con-
quers your reason, convinces your
Judgment. This tremendous power OF
persuasion is the key to the whole man.
1t accounts for both his stregth and his
weakness. He is so superb, SO match
less an arguer, that he can lead English
sentiment around after him wherever
he wants to go. But he is also so Won
derful casuist that he persuades even
himself out of his own judgment sorne-
times, and then leader and led alike
go into the ditch. Sentiment and
shrewdness are curiously mingled
in his mental control. He is a vener-
able Gulliver among Lilliputians.
Long since the query became familiar
to Liberals, Who will lead when Glad
stone dies? and the efforts to answer it
have only served to show the measure
of Harrington's incapacity, side by side
with Chamberlain unftness. But a
more general question still forces itself
upon student of Parliament here.
Who will render the House of Com
mons intellectually respectable even
when Gladstone Is gone? And there
seems to be no answer at all to this
question. Every American is familiar
with the theory that the day of biz men
is past in America and with the illus
tration which the personnel of the
United States Senate is supposed to af-
ford. The thing seems painfully true
here, at least. There are some strong. or
relatively strong, men in the frontrank
Of the Liberal party--and the issue of
the next few months nay reveal tina t
John Morley is more relatively strong.
But not even Mr.. Morley, brilliant as
he is and great as he may become.
shines Individually beside the radiance
of Gladatone's genius. And on the
other side what is there? From sheer
destitution Of leadership Lord Randolph
Churchill has been allowed to force
himself forward, and he unquestio onably
is the cleverest and eadiest Tory on the
front opposition bench. He about
matches Chamberlain in debate and re-
partee, and he more than matches BIN
in outside popularity with the ..thoi
Jgolloi." When they are pitted against
zach other now the effect is interesting
|aoften enjoyable, because there is always
.pH'se7,t' the recollection that they are
!lpdet$fIaIpefS, and that far greater
man is the responsible head Of affairs.
In: the city of Madras ia Ind la. there
are two converts Of Presentation. II Nuns
Il