36 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 
comparatively little use, largely for the reason that most of the 
French members speak English quite readily, but chiefly that 
in using French they speak only to a lmited audience in the 
chamber. 
But the race characteristics remain and are imarked. I 
cannot better express these characteristics than by quoting a 
few lines from an address of the present leader of the House 
spoken a few years ago on this subject of parliamentary life : 
‘*One of the many qualities that render the English apt in 
parliamentary government is that they know how to listen 
and to be tolerant. It is not in the ardent temperament of the 
French to respect the convictions of others, for he conceives 
with so much intensity that he cannot admit the possibility of 
others differing from him. ‘The Englishman has his own 
opinions and he is not astonished because you differ from him, 
in fact he would despise you if you had no opinion of your 
own. 
‘‘See what happens in the legislative body at Paris. There 
is an orator in the ‘Tribune. His adversaries cannot 
keep quiet. From all points of the chamber arise interrup- 
tions and protests and at times it ends in confusion. Look on 
the other hand at our House of Commons. It supports the 
most furious attacks without wincing and no one dreams of 
interrupting unless the orator permits interruption. Never- 
theless the attack is keen, often bitter. The orator’s friends 
applaud, his adversaries do not budge. When they believe 
the attack fair they endure without wincing. If he exagge- 
rates they emphasize by ironical applause. If he falls into 
misstatement the faces relax as there is nothing to fear. If 
he grows paradoxical he receives every latitude and they 
listen with amused wonderment. 
“The Englishman respects your opinions but he never 
thinks of your feelings. For us sons of France political senti- 
ment is a passion, while for the Englishman it is a question of 
business.’’ 
The House of Commons is above all a meeting of business 
men and business questions are there treated. Strangers 
