Sir William Harcourt at Lewes on Wednesday treated his audience
to one of those clever, dashing, audacious harangues for which he haa.so special a gift It is always out of place to be angry with the lawyer who is only doing his best by his client ; always unfair to Sir William Harcourt to criticise his speeches as if they expressed his own convictions. That certain facts and arguments are in the brief, must in either case be considered sufficient excuse for the language used. In the present instance, Sir William Harcourt's instructions must have been like those in the old story,—" No case ; please abuse plaintiff's attorney." He has not a word to say on Home. tale, or Mr. Gladstone's modifications ; there is nothing but a series of smart attacks on his opponents. Lord Randolph Churchill is twitted with being a disinterested authority
on the Irish Question, "because he has tried all the policies, and ought to know which is the best,"—a taunt which for sublime audacity, when coming from the speaker, has pro- bably never been surpassed. The Tories are longing for the time "when legislation shall be no more, and when there shall be nothing heard for ever and for ever but the voice of Mr. Smith moving the Closure." Was Sir William Harcourt really relying upon a Sussex audience imagining that the Tories use- the Closure to prevent the passing of beneficial legislation P To notice all the flouts and gibes in which the speech abounds, would, however, be impossible. Perhaps the only passage worthy of serious attention in the whole, is that in which Sir William. Harcourt finally gives up the attempt—an attempt still always made by Mr. Gladstone—to show that the Gladstonians are consistent in supporting the very organisation which they them- selves suppressed. He now frankly admits that the old policy. was wrong. You should let crime, if popular, slide.
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