r constructive
legislation; but give him the opportunity of criticising what somebody
else has proposed, and he is in his real element, and is, perhaps, the
very best man in the House of Commons. There wasn't much to criticise in
the Budget of Sir William Harcourt from the Tory point of view. Finding
himself with a deficit the Liberal leader was unable to go in for any
startling novelty, especially in a Session when everything is to be
opposed in order that Home Rule may be defeated. But one would have
thought that this would have delighted the timid and conservative soul
of Mr. Goschen. Not a bit of it. Taking cleverly the rather auroral
promises of the election period, Mr. Goschen contrasted all these hopes
and glowing prospects with the thin and meagre fare of Sir William's
Budget. It was very well done--full of unwonted fire, of biting and
effective raillery and of excellent party hits; it lit up for a brief
space the sombreness which has fallen so completely on the Tory Benches
in this year of wails and lamentations.

[Sidenote: Sir William as an early Christian.]

But the debate soon relapsed under a soporific speech from Sir John
Lubbock, who made an insinuating proposal to open a discussion on Home
Rule in the midst of the debate on the Imperial Budget. Sir William was
a delight during these proceedings. Everybody knows that he has both a
warm heart and a warm temper, and there have been times when the
collisions between himself and Mr. Goschen have seemed to indicate a
violence of personal as well as of party antagonism. But the duty of
great ministers is to practise the scriptural principle of turning the
other cheek to the smiter. It is wonderful, indeed, to see how humanity
can attune itself to a situation. The most violent and vehement
free-lance below the gangway sobers down in office to politeness, and
peace with all men of good or bad will. Sir William, sitting on the
Treasury Bench that night--beneath the wild tirade of Mr. Goschen--under
the dreary drip of Sir John Lubbock--was a sight that a new Addison
might show to his child; not that he might see how a Christian might
die, but how a great Christian official could suffer with all the
patience of silent and suffering merit. There was a look of almost
dazzling and beatific sanctity on Sir William's face that was perfectly
delightful to behold. And when he got up to reply to Mr. Goschen and to
Sir John Lubbock, whither had departed that splendid rotun