Mr. Chamberlain also criticised the Mombasa Railway debate, remarking on
the peculiarity that now the Gladstonian leaders who speak on one side do not vote on that side, but walk out of the House, while those who vote do not speak, but vote silently. He thought Mr. Gladstone's speech betrayed his leaning to the section of Radicals led by Mr. Labonchere, who cares much more to reduce England to the position of a somewhat larger Belgium, without Colonies and without Dependencies, than he does to extinguish slavery in Africa, or to extend the influence and commerce of the people of Great Britain. And he commented with great power on the spectacle of the leaders of Opposition showing their amenability to Mr. Labouchere's un-English views.