xi POLITICAL LIFE 267 



things? I must go on." And he finished with the 

 following admirable peroration : 



And what, gentlemen, will be the end ? What will be the 

 end? I don't think that even our opponents believe it 

 possible for them to win. They do believe, or think they 

 believe, that they can delay the triumph of the cause ; they 

 know they cannot prevent it. They can delay it by every 

 means ; they may perhaps destroy some of its grace, some- 

 thing of its dignity, something of its freedom. They may 

 produce further controversy, further exasperation. What is 

 the good of results like this ? Is it desirable that you should 

 now give the boon of your own spontaneous will to Ireland 

 thankful and grateful, in the anticipation of a future of loyalty 

 and joy, or that you should wait until difficulty gathers round 

 you, and until it is extorted from your hands, as Roman 

 Catholic Emancipation was dragged from out of the hands of 

 the Duke of Wellington in order to avert civil war ? Now, 

 gentlemen, be wise, and be wise in time. Rekindle the 

 ancient fire which was the beacon from Manchester forty and 

 thirty years ago, blazing throughout the land. Again set the 

 example to England and lead us on to victory, to a bloodless 

 victory, to a victory without tears or shame, to a victory 

 where, after a short time of happy retrospect, the conquered 

 will join with the conquerors in the rejoicing it brings about, 

 and will recognise what has been done as for the whole 

 Empire, a common triumph and a common joy. 



In a few words I proposed a vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Gladstone and pledged the meeting to support 

 his policy. 



The next morning I was invited to breakfast with 

 Mr. Agnew (now Sir William) at Somerville, Pendle- 

 ton, and here Mr. Gladstone received a large number 

 of deputations. The scene, as he stood bare-headed 

 on the lawn, receiving the addresses and replying 

 in touching and forcible language to each, was one 

 which all who witnessed it will not forget. 



In my election address of 1886 I formulated my 

 views on Home Rule as follows : 



As regards the all-absorbing question of the day, my vote 

 on the Government of Ireland Bill has already indicated that, 



