Lord R. Churchill mixes caution with his impudence. On Saturday
a deputation from Manchester waited on him to ask him to contest the city at the next general election, but he 'declined, saying that he should sever his connection with Wood- stock with great reluctance. He believed that the principles of Lord Beaconsfield had been encouraged "by the misfortunes and blunders of those who unscrupulously combined to over- throw him." A dissolution might, therefore, place the Tories in a position of great power, but "such a result would be due rather to the causes ho had indicated than to the policy of the Opposition in Parliament. , The Constitu- tional function of an Opposition was to oppose, and not support, the Government, and those functions had, dining the three Sessions of this Parliament, been systematically neglected or ineffectually carried out. Legitimate opportunities had arisen for conflict, which ought to have resulted in the 'overthrow of the Ministry or in great damage thereto ; and those "opportunities had been allowed to pass by unavailed of." Con- sidering that Sir Stafford Northcote has just gone to sea, sick with Lord Randolph's insubordination, this open attack is as ungenerous as it is unwise. It is, to say the least, inconsistent en a man who charges his chief with want of dash, to declare in the same breath that for himself he shall cling tenaciously to his peoket-borough, and not help in the campaign to carry the great cities.
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