Sir William Harcourt delivered an exultant speech on Monday at
Holloway Hall, Islington. "Great majorities," he said, "have a knack of falling in pieces, and the heavier the majority the heavier its fall." Champion giants are "usually men of weak constitutions and abort lives." The Unionists "have arrived at the stage of sermons and soda- water." The Education Bill failed because it was a revolution ; while the country only wanted more aid to voluntary schools. The Liberals resisted the Bill because it was bad, but the Government were defeated by the spirit betrayed in their own party. Even the Guardian, the clerical organ, told them they did not know what they were about. As for the Rating Bill, if the Unionists were going to reform rates, why did not they reform everybody's rates, instead of those of a particular interest? The Bill was a clumsy and unjust attempt to get hold of public money for a class. There was agricultural distress, but it was in particular districts only, in others rates being as low as 2s. in the pound,—a rate which to Londoners would be an object of envy. He should appeal on this Bill to the country, and the opinion of Lancashire about it already suggested the handwriting on the wall. The speech was vigorous and lively, and, from the speaker's point of view, well argued ; but we have suggested else- where reasons for condemning the exultation in it as at least premature. Goliath dies when David comes, but where is David
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