222 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



Mr. Chamberlain, in the course of his reply, said : 

 You know that, beyond all things, I value the good 

 opinion of my fellow-citizens, amongst whom the 

 greater part of my life has been spent. (Cheers.) I 

 have proved again and again the falsehood of the 

 proverb that a man is not a prophet in his own 

 country — (hear, hear) — and at all times I have found 

 the most honourable interpretation of my motives 

 and my actions, the most generous appreciation of 

 such services as I have attempted to render here in 

 Birmingham, amongst my own people, in the town 

 of my adoption and my affection, and with which 

 all the past associations of my life are inseparably 

 connected. (Cheers.) I was sure when I went to 

 America that I should be followed by your good 

 wishes and your hearty sympathy, and that in 

 Birmingham, at any rate, I should have nothing 

 to fear from hostile critics or candid friends. 

 (Laughter and cheers.) I have no doubt that you 

 were amused, as I have been myself, at the ingeni- 

 ous surmises that were current elsewhere as to 

 the motives which prompted my acceptance of the 

 honourable task that was entrusted to me by 

 the Government. (Cheers.) On any question the 

 simplest explanation is the last which always sug- 

 gests itself to a certain class of mind — (laughter) — • 

 but you will have no difficulty in believing that, in 

 doing as I did, I only followed the precepts that 

 have been urged again and again from this platform 

 by the leaders of opinion in Birmingham : that no 

 man, except under absolute necessity, can honour- 

 ably refuse a public duty, or the chance of a public 



