Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-12


 arose. filling the ar with a passing flicker of interest but each time 1t sprang up only to die down again as the ordinary business of the day drag ged itself out.
 Gradually, as the afternoon wore on, daylight began to fade. Loder, sitting risidly in Chilcote's place, watched with suppressed inquiry the faces of the men who entered through the con stantly swinging doors, but not one face, so eagerly scanned. carried the message for which he waited Monot- onously and mechanically the time passed. The government, adopting . neutral attitude. carefully skirted all dangerous subjects, while the opposi- tion. acting under Fraide's suggestion, assisted rather than hindered the pro- gramme of postponement. For the mo ment the eagerly anticipated reassem- bling threatened dismal failure, and it was with a universal movement of weariness and relief that at last the house roso to dine.
 But there are no possibilities 50 elas- tic as those of politics. At half past the house rose in spirit of boredom and disappointment. md at 8 o'clock the lobbies. the dining room, the entire space of the vast building, was stirred into activity by the arrival of single telegraphic message.
 The new development for which Fraide had waited came indeed. but 1t came with force he had little antici- pated. With thrill of awe and con sternaticn men heard and repeated the astounding news that, while personal- ly exercising, his authority on behalf of British traders, Sir William Brice- Field, consul general at Meshed, had been fired at by Russian onicer and instantly killed.
 The interval immediately following the receipt of this news was too con fused for detailed remembrance. Two ideas made themselves slowly felt-a deep horror that such an event could obtrude itself upon our high civilizA- tion and strong personal dismay that so honored, distinguished and esteem ed a representative as Sir William Brice-Field could have been allowed to meet death in 50 terrible manner.
 It was in the consciousness of this feeling, the consciousness that in his own person he might voice not only the feelings of his party, but those of the whole country, that Loder rose an hour later to make his long delayed attack.
 He stood silent for moment, as he had done on an earlier occasion. but this time his motive was different. Reused beyond any feeling of self con sciousness, he waited as by right for the full attention of the house; then quietly, but with self possessed firm ness, he moved the motion for adjourn ment.
 Like a match to train of powder the words set fiame to the excitement that had smoldered for weeks, and in an atmosphere of stirring activity. scene of such tense and vital concen- tration as the house has rarely wit messed, he found inspiration for his great achievement.
 To give Loder's speech in mere words would be little short of futile. The gift of oratory is too illusive, too much matter of eye and voice and individ- uality, to allow of cold reproduction. To those who heard him speak on that night of April IS the speech will re- quire no recalling, and to those who did not hear him there would be no substitute in bare reproduction.
 In the moment of action 1t mattered nothing to him that his previous prepa- rations were to . great extent rendered useless by this news thnt had come with such paralyzing effect. In the sweeping consciousness of his own ability he found added joy in the free dom 1t opened up. He ceased to con. slider that by fate he was Conserva- tive, bound by traditional convention alities. Tn that great moment he knew himself suniciently man to exercise whatever individuality instinct prompt ed. He forgot tho didactic methods by which he had proposed to show knowl- edge of his subject. both as past and a future factor in European politics. With his own strong appreciation of present things he saw and grasped the vast present interest lying beneath his hand.
 For fifty minutes he held the interest of the house. speaking insistently. fear lessly. commandingly on the immediate need of action. He unhesitatingly pointed out that the news which had just reached England was not so much nn appalling fnct as a sinister warning to those in whose keeping lay the safety of the country's interests. Lastly. with fne touch of eloquence. he paid trib- ute to the steadfast fidelity of such men as Sir William Brice- Field. who. what ever political Complications arise at home, pursue their duty unswervinsly on the outposts of the empire
 At his last words there was silence the silence that marks . genuine effect then all at once. with vehement, i'm pressive force. the storm of enthusiasm broke its bounds.
 It was one of those stupendous bursts of feeling that no etiquette. no decorum. is powerful enough to quell As he re- sumed his seat. very pale. but exalted as men are exalted only once or twice In a lifetime. 1t rose about him-clamor- ous. spontaneous. undenlable. Near at hand were the faces of his party. excit-