UNITED STATES AND CANADA 143 



evening. But there is one thing, sir, I would like 

 to say to you right here." [At this juncture every- 

 one was getting hot and uncomfortable, wondering 

 what was coming, with the exception of the Chinese 

 Minister, who understood but little English, and 

 was still busily engaged with his bananas.] " Sir, 

 neither I nor my colleagues in this country have 

 ever been able to understand how you came to 

 desert the banner of that great man, Mr. Gladstone 

 [with emphasis on the " stone "]. People, sir, who 

 do that kind of thing in this country are known 

 as ' Mugwumps.' " A good deal more followed in 

 the same strain, till at length the Senator, having 

 exhausted his energies in this execrable ebullition, 

 resumed his seat. For the benefit of the uninitiated 

 I may mention that " mugwump " is an Indian 

 word signifying a captain or leader, but it came into 

 political use by its application in derision to those 

 members of the Republican party who, rejecting 

 Mr. Blaine, resolved to vote for his Democratic 

 opponent, Mr. Grover Cleveland. It was a study 

 to watch Mr. Chamberlain's face during the delivery 

 of this ill-timed philippic. His reply was brief but 

 incisive. " From the remarks that have fallen from 

 the lips of my friend the Senator from ... I can 



