If th4 - .; dinner was a fiasco, as regards those who
attended it, it woe.: till more of a fiasco in the matter of argument. Every speech made contained one colossal non sequitur and generally two. The speakers praised the Honse of Lords—and in our opinion quite rightly— as one of the best deliberative and legis- lative assemblies in the world, and one which ought to be preserved, and then went on to recommend its immediate destruction by forcing the creation of peers. Lord Halsbury appeased to be consoled with the reflection that it ought to be possible later on to impeach the men who recommended the creation. If the matter were not so serious a good deal of amusement would be derivable from this method of regarding current politics. The other nos sequitur which marked the speeches was to be found in lavish praise of Lord Lansdowne and Mr. Balfour and of their wisdom and foresight and in a determination to follow them—Lord Salisbury declared that "he would rather cut off his right hand than do anything to minister to the fall of Lord Lansdowne." But no sooner were the words of loyalty uttered than the speakers proceeded to the declaration that they had not the slightest intention of following their esteemed leaders' advice, but meant, on the contrary, to run absolutely counter to it and do the very thing which the leaders had solemnly declared ought not to be done.
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