New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27
LONDON NOTES.
MEN OF LETTERS IN PARLIAMENTARY
GEORGE MEREDPrH'S BIRTHDAY GIFT
AN INTERNATIONAL GALLERY.

London, February H.
Lawyers are less numerous Mt Westminster
than in the American Congress, and they are
among the dullest speakers In Parliamentary
debates. Either they are too closely occupied In
the courts to prepare themselves adequately FOR
debate, else they are unable to throw aside
their hair splitting methods; but they seldom
succeed In making regulations as orators whose
voices the House loves to hear. Mt Asduith is
exception which serves to prove the rule
Among the dozen men Of letters In the Commons
nearly all Ill instead OF emptying the House
when they speak. They may not be orators
but at least, they have mastered the Art of Ia
teresting a Parliamentary audience and OF
pi9uing its curiosity.
Six of the twelve either are or have been
Ministers. Mr.. John Morley began as an essay
ist and rectcr, and has ended by being an
effective debatcr-one Of the best In the Com
mons II was not until be broke away from
the bondage OF written notes and learned TO
speak extemporaneously that he really caught
the ear of the House. Sir William Harcourt
who. although a barrster must be accounted
primarily Of letters. is one Of the best
debaters although confined somewhat closely TO
notes on great occasions Mr.. Arthur Balfour
speaks In a hating way. stammering In the mid
die Of a sentence. but his phrasng u always ex-
eellent and his style possesses the essential Gle
ment Of lucidity Sir Charles Dixie Is a
practised debater who always knows what he
has in mind and how to say 1t, and Mr.. James
Bryce also speaks with authority and power.
although with less grace of manner and with
heavier and more involved style Mr. George
Curzon is gradually losing his bookish and su-
perior manner and is becoming one OF the most
fncisive debaters Of the House.
The second group Of men OF letters includes
Mr. Iabouchere, Mr.. Lecky, Mr.. Justin Nc
Earthly Sir John Lubbock. Mr.. Augustine Br
reil and Mr.. Henry NJ Stanley. Among these
Mr.. Labouchere. although no longer at his best
b still speaker who empty the smoking
room and Hobbies and fill every bench. His in
duence may have declined owing to his vagaries
In South African politics and to the vehemence
OF his assaults upon Lord Rosebery. but his
reputation remains u free lance. with an in
dependent line Of his own and with unfailing re
sources OF humor and sarcasm Mr.. Lecky sell
dom speaks. but has an attentive audience
whenever he takes part in debate. His tall
calmly and excessively awkward figure has been
q godsend to the caricaturists in these DAYS OF
slow, prosac politics, but he is not a laughing
stock in the House, where he speaks with sim
plcity and weight Neither Mr.. Mccarthy nor
Dir John Lubbock has ever been a good debater,
although each is liked for his personal qualities
Mr.. Birrell. although successful barrister is
essentially man Of letters and also an admi-
rable speaker. with racy. incisive style and
cumulative force Of argument. Mr. Stanley is
seldom heard. but is fluent and wel-informed
whenever African subjects are under discussion
The influence Of literary men Is great at
Westminster, because the ordinary arts Of po-
ntical oratory are reserved for the platform and
excluded from the COmmonR Debates are con-