f Ireland; that he had made a communication to
Mr. Parnell to that effect through a friend; and that from that time
forward no hard word could be found in his speeches with regard to the
Irish leader. This little speech was uttered with exquisite dignity and
kindliness, and Mr. Redmond received it with the handsomest
acknowledgment of its gentleness and grace.

[Sidenote: No manipulating.]

This episode has made me anticipate a little, and almost tempted me to
pass by one of the incidents in the speech of Mr. Chamberlain. But that
would have been a mistake, for it is an incident that brings out fully
the reason why he is so utterly disliked and distrusted even in those
Tory circles which, for the moment, are making use of him. It is an
incident that likewise throws a flood of light upon the inner, hidden,
dark depths of his sinister nature. He was arguing on the financial
aspects of Mr. Gladstone's Bill. Under this portion of the Bill the
trader who has residences in both countries is entitled to make his
return for his income-tax in either England or Ireland. Mr. Chamberlain
proceeded to put the case of a trader in that position who wished to
embarrass the Irish Government, and who would wish accordingly to give
England, and not the Irish Exchequer, the advantage of his income-tax.
This he could do, Mr. Chamberlain pointed out, in the easiest manner
imaginable; he could "manipulate his books." There it stands; these are
the very words he used. Incredible, everybody would say who didn't know
Mr. Chamberlain, and wasn't told by the evidence of eyes and ears that
the words had actually been uttered. The Irish members were not slow to
seize the point, and to shout aloud at this revelation of Mr.
Chamberlain's nature; and even his Tory friends shuddered at such a
manifestation of the real kind of man that lies hidden under Mr.
Chamberlain's oily and smooth exterior. At first, he seemed surprised at
the visible shock and tremor and involuntary sense of repulsion which
this odious suggestion awakened on all sides--then he slowly realized
that he had made a mistake; and, for once, this readiest of debaters was
nonplussed, and even a little abashed.

[Sidenote: The Irish Members and the Bill.]

Mr. MacCarthy followed Mr. Chamberlain; he spoke just from ten to
fifteen minutes--plainly, simply, to the point, and what he had to say
was that he and his friends did look on this Bill as a final settlement,
which Ireland would be