Morley, and Mr. Bryce. No man in the House of Commons has so complete a
knowledge as Mr. Bryce of the various forms of government in the world,
especially in countries which have the complicated system that is about
to be fashioned under the new Bill. Mr. Bryce is a professor and a
student, and he has the manner of his calling and his pursuits. Arguing
his case without passion, slowly, calmly, in excellently chosen
language, he can speak on even the most violently contested measure as
though it were a demonstration in anatomy. So he spoke on February
14th--making mince-meat with deadly tranquillity of manner of most of
the objections of Mr. Balfour, and altogether strengthening the position
of the Bill.

[Sidenote: Mr. Redmond.]

A speech which had been looked forward to with even greater curiosity
was that of Mr. Redmond, the leader of the Parnellites. The Tories had
settled themselves down in large numbers, counting on a great treat. And
undoubtedly the opening of Mr. Redmond's speech was not auspicious. He
thought that some recognition should have been given to the great dead
Irishman as well as to the living Englishman who had brought the Home
Rule question to its present position. The delighted Tories, not loving
Mr. Parnell, but seeing in this the promise of a lively and unpleasant
attack on the Bill, cheered lustily, and speeded Mr. Redmond on his way
on the full tide of a splendid reception. But as time went on, their
faces gradually grew longer, and when Mr. Redmond resumed his seat they
had come to the conclusion that one of the strongest foundations on
which they had built their hopes for wrecking the Bill had entirely
gone. Summed up, what Mr. Redmond had to say came to this: that he saw
many grave defects in the Bill; that he was especially dissatisfied with
the financial arrangements; that he didn't approve of the retention of