7
covenanted servants, as merchants and traders all over the world, the policy of abandoning our possessions might not be popular with you; but though I acknowledge to the full the enterprise of my countrymen, though I agree with Sir John Ross that if he had ever reached the North Pole he would have found a Scotchman sitting astride of it—(loud cheers)—yet I know I am addressing a pious and God-fearing people, whose motto has always been "Fiat justitia, ruat cœlum," who would never allow what is called the "main chance" to interfere with their sense of justice, and who would shrink from the touch of unhallowed gain with the same disgust as I myself, humbly be it said, shrank from the profits made by my paternal slaves fifty years ago. (Loud and continued cheering.) Cicero once said he wished every man had written on his brow what he really thought of the affairs of the State. Well, I am more fortunate than Cicero. I believe I can actually see what Cicero only desired to see. I think I can see
"HOUSE OF LORDS"
written on the intellectual foreheads of the whole noble assemblage I am now addressing. (Laughter and cheers.) Well, you shall not be disappointed. I will tell you all about the House of Lords, but in doing so I shall have to take you into my confidence—into my family confidence—a confidence hitherto withheld from all the world, and now open to my constituents alone. Of course, so far as I am concerned, I would do away with the House of Lords to-morrow; but if I did so what would become of my friend Lord Granville, of the Dukes of Devonshire and Argyll, and many of my greatest personal friends? But it is not the claim of friendship alone that stays the axe already uplifted to bring to the ground another upas tree. I have, as you know, two sons, one who is treading in my footsteps so closely that I feel sometimes unconsciously turning round in alarm lest he should tread on my heels. And my eldest son, to whom, I grieve to say it, politics appear to be rather a bore, it is certain he will never make a name in the present House of Commons; it is possible he may never sit in another. The only way in which he can serve his country, and achieve success, is by making him a peer. (Cheers.) He would make an excellent peer. Should I be justified in sacrificing the best, probably the only prospects of my son's advancement, to my dislike to Lord Salisbury? (Cries of "No, no.") Am I to sacrifice my friends in order to be revenged on his? To burn my house in order to roast his eggs? (Cheers.) I think not. I am not, as you know, just now a supporter of female franchise, but that is because it was made a stalking-horse by the Tories to hamper my Franchise Bill. Only let the female franchise be opposed by the Tories on some future occasion, and you will see with what vigour I will champion it. But, after all, franchise or no franchise, women go for something in this world, and the question of the House of Lords is, I may whisper to you in confidence, very much more
AN AFFAIRE DE FEMMES
than many of you suppose. God forbid that I should ever go to the House of Lords; but events may be too strong for me. Already my
