ageous thing to do for he not only risked his reputation
but his career. Up and down the Empire he pleaded. He was in some
respects the brilliant Bryan of the period but with the difference that
he was crucifying himself and not his cause upon the Cross of Peace. He
became the target of bitter attack: no epithet was too vile to hurl upon
him. Often he carried his life in his hands as the episode of the
Birmingham riot shows. In all his storm tossed life nothing approached
this in daring or danger.

Lloyd George was invited to speak in the Citadel of Imperialism which
was likewise the home of Joseph Chamberlain, Arch-Apostle of the Boer
War. Save for the staunchest Liberals the whole town rose in protest.
For weeks the local press seethed and raged denouncing Lloyd George as
"arch-traitor" and "self-confessed enemy." He was warned that he would
imperil his life if he even showed himself. He sent back this word: "I
am announced to speak and speak I will."

He reached Birmingham ahead of schedule time and got to the home of his
host in safety. All day long sandwich men paraded the highways bearing
placards calling upon the citizenry to assemble at the Town Hall where
Lloyd George was to speak "To defend the King, the Government and Mr.
Chamberlain."

Night came, the streets were howling mobs, every constable was on duty.
The hall was stormed and when Lloyd George appeared on the platform he
faced turmoil. Hundreds of men carried sticks, clubs and bricks covered
with rags and fastened to barbed wire. When he rose to speak Bedlam let
loose. Jeers, catcalls and frightful epithets rained on him and with
them rocks and vegetables. He removed his overcoat and stood calm and
smiling. When he raised his voice, however, the grand assault was made.
Only a double cordon of constables massed around the stage kept him from
being overwhelmed. In the free-for-all fight that followed one man was
killed and many injured.

Anything like a speech was hopeless: the main task was to save the
speaker's life, for outside in the streets a bloodthirsty rabble waited
for its prey. Lloyd George started to face them single-handed and it
was only when he was told that such procedure would not only foolishly
endanger his life but the lives of his party which included several
women, he consented to escape through a side door, wearing a policeman's
helmet and coat.

Fourteen years later Lloyd George returned to Birmingham acclaimed as a
Saviour of