Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-04-11

| lIdIlOu as lllc nOuSC AuS IuTcly VIII
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 Elusive, too much
a 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 it mattered
nothing to him that his previous prepa-
rations were to a great extent rendered
useless by this news that 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 a Conserva-
tive, bound by traditional convention
alities. In that great moment he knew
himself sufficiently a man to exercise
whatever individuality instinct prompt
ed. He forgot the didactic methods by
which he had proposed to show knowl-
edge of his subject, both as a past and
q 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 in%sistently, fear
!essly, commandingly on the immediate
need of action. He unhesitatingly
pointed out that the news which had
Just reached, England vas not so much
an appalling fact as a sinister warning
to those in whose keeping lay the safety
of the country's interests. Lastly. with
a fine touch of e%loquence, Ia paid trib-
ute to the steadfast fidelity Nsuch men
as Sir William Brice-Field. who, what
ever political complications arise at
home, pursue their duty unswervingly
on the outposts of the empire.
At his last words there was silence
the silence that marks a genuine effect
then all at once. with vehement, inn
pressive force. the storm of enthusiasm
broke it's bounds.
1T 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, it rose about him-clamor-
Gus, spontaneous, undeniable. Near at
hand were the faces Of his party, excit-
ed and triumphant; across the house
We're the faces Of Scarborough and his
ministry, uncomfortable and disturbed.
The tumult swelled, then fell away,
and in the partial lull that followed
Fraide leaned over the back of his seat.
His quiet, dignifed expression was I'M
altered. but his eyes were intensely
bright.
"Chilcote," he whispered. 81 don't con-
graduate you OF myself. l congratu-
late the country on possessing a great
man,!
The remaining features of the de-
bate followed quickly II upon the
other. The electric atmosphere Of the
house possessed a strong incentive
power. Immediately Loder's ovation
had subsidized, the undersecretary for
foreign affairs rose and in a careful
and nonincriminating reply defended
the attitude of the government.
Next came Fraide, who, in one Of his
rare and polished speeches. touched
with much feeling upon his personal
grief at the news reported from Persia
and made emphatic Endorsement of Lo-
der's words.
Following Fraide came IL or two
dissentient Liberals, and then Sefbor-
ough himself closed the debate. His
though any disquietude he may have
felt was we'll disguised under a tone of
reassuring ease, the attempt to reha-
bilitate his position-already weakened
in more than one d~irection-was a task
beyond his strength.
Amid extraordinary excitement the
division followed, and with it a govern
ment defeat.
1t was not until half an hour after
the votes had been taken that Loder
freed at last from persistent congratu.
l%ations, found opportunity to look fol
Eve. In accordance with a promise
made that morning. he was to find hel
waiting outside the ladies' gallery al
the close of the debate.
Disengaging himself from the GROUP
of men who had surrounded and fol
lowed him down the lobby, he discard
ed the lift and ran up the narrow stair
case. Reaching the landing, he Went
forward hurriedly. Then with a certain
abrupt movement he paused. In the
doorway leading to the gallery Eve
was waiting for him. The place was
not brightly lighted, and she was stand
ing in the shadow, but it needed only {
glance to assure his recognition. he
could almost have seen in the dark tina
night, so vivid were his perceptions
He took a step toward her, then AGAR
he stopped. In a second glance he real
lied that her eyes were bright will
tears, and it was with the stranges1
sensation he had ever experienced tina
the knowledge flashed upon him. Here
also he had struck the same note-the
long coveted note Of supremacy. 1t hat