MR GLADSTONE AND AN OPPONENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 120, 23 May 1877, Page 4

MR GLADSTONE AND AN OPPONENT.

"The London correspondent of the 8. A* Register thus describes a scene in tbe House of Commons between Mr Gladstone and Mr Chaplin;— While Mr Smyth wai speakiog Mr Gladstone, who had been away, returned to his seat, and listened with evident pleasure to the glowing sentences that fell from Mr Smyth's lips. Mr Smyth having made an end of what his friends among the Home Rulers will have it was a recitation, Mr Chaplin rose from ,th- other aid This gentleman (once celebrated as a leader on the turf) is a fioe, . tall, handsome man, with ao intense air of self satisfaction and selfsufficiency in his - whole aspect and demeanor. With a fine presence, a pleasant voice, and easy delivery, he has made several successful speeches in ihe-House, on the strength of which j his party have flattered him into the belief that he is a great orator and a coming statesman. Nothing could have been more insolent and offensive tban his attack npon Mr Gladstone. In a : series of carefully prepared sentences, - into which- he had thrown as much causticity and scorn as he knew how, " he taunted bim with having gone about . -from east to west, from north to south, seeking, the cheers of the populace at railway stations, Sec, while he shrank from meeting his opponents face to f: cs io the House of Commons. He then in tones and with gestures as insulting .as be. could use, asked him a number of ; questions, which he knew very well Mr Gladstone could not, according to the forms of the House, answer. When •■ reminded of this by the ironical cheers of the Opposition, he then eaid he . would give him an opportunity of answering by moving the adjournment of tbe House. The moment he had done so Mr Gladstone leapt to his feet, . and said, "Sir, I rise to second that motion." This was the signal for a burst of cheering from the Liberal benches such as has been rarely heard within those walls. Again and again was it returned, as if the members could never adequately express their mingled feelings of admiration for their great leader, and of indignation for (he virulent attack that had been made , upon him. Then began one of the finest bursts of extempore eloquence that ever fell from human lips. In a torrent of scathing invective, he absolutely overwhelmed bis adversary, uutii one almost began to feel pity for tbe Unfortunate man who had brought down such a castigation upon himself. Nor did Lord George Hamilton, who is an uncommonly jaunty gentleman, fare much better when he attempted, by unseemly iuterruption, to stem the . current. With one sweep of hia arm, - Mr Gladstone brushed him aside— as one would a troublesome insect which comes buzzing about his head when he is seriously engaged. No other man, in , either House, could have delivered such an unpremeditated speech. The most .. jnarveilous thing was tbat though' ut- . tered with unusual rapidity and vehemence, every sentence came forth as rounded and perfect as if it had been carefully elaborated in the quiet solitude of his study.