EARL BRACONSFIELD ON HIS OWN MAIDEN SPEECH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 154, 30 June 1881, Page 4

EARL BRACONSFIELD ON HIS OWN MAIDEN SPEECH.

(European Mail.) At a time when go much is being brought forward in connection with the late Lord Beaconsfiald's career, it me.y nofc ba uniniorea'isitf to reprint (he conrnents which fhe noble E^ri biuisoif mado to hia coostiluaais oo that speech and his reception by tho Houee. He said: — Gentlemen, — I say at once the circumstances in wfeich I addressed the Speaker were altogether unparalleled. I doubt if anything at all similar to them had ever before occurred. Tbia fault only I Gad wiih myself. I was warned of the reception I Bhould meet with, bot this oniy induced me to meet it the sooner. It is part of my constitution to meet menacing danger as soon as possible. (Cheers ) I have no idßa of shirking a conflict which I . know to be inevitable. Yet I had some confidence ia the honour of gentlemen. 1: d not think the moment a new mem* 1 u». here would be an organised ber rose v- -*• bim down by clamour, conspiracy to pu. ,T * stood as often (Hear, hear.) I ha»^ before asB 8 most; men of my age assemblies of the people — adver&v Betnblies, unwilling audionces — but i always found that which "is the boast of Britons— fair play. (Cheers.) I ever found that they racognised the justice of our national adage that. " Fair play is a jewel, 5 ' aod least of all did I expect that it would be denied by the penilemen of Eogland. (Hear, hear.) But why do I style them •• gentlemen *' of England ? Oh no; it was not by them that fair play wes denied; for io an assembly crowded almost beyond parallel, in which nearly 600 members were present, rising at raid-night to address tbe House, I declare on the honour of a gentleman that a small band of thirty or forty produced ell the uproar you have heard of. (Hear, hear.) My voice had not been raised before tbe insulting jeer srose and tbe affected deriaion was expressed ty which they hoped to send me into my seat. But I tell you candiJly my thoughts instantly reverted to you, my cocitituents. (Cheers. )' Is tbis, I said to myself, the relurn for your generous confidence, that, fche moment I, rise an infuriated, Jscobitical, and Papistical mob ehould raise their blatant voices and trcmple upon me with tbeir deiatical hoofs ? Shall I yidd to tbem like a child or a poltroon, and resume my seat with pale face and' chattering teeth ? (Immense cheering.) No such thing, gentlemen. I determined to be on my legs exactly the period I intended my speech should occupy. I succeeded— semtimes in comparative calm ; sometimes the cheering of friends joining with the yelling of the foe; sometimes in a scene of tumult unspeakable. But I ; stood erect, and when I eat down I sent them my defiance. They thought to put ms down, but they never shall put me town. (Immense cheering ) Yet, gentleman, I would not hive you suppose for a moment, when I speak thus, tbat I am deficient in respect for the House. No one feels more deeply than myself wbat is due to the House of Commons* ns one would bend more readily to its opinion, or tbe decision of the Speaker; no one will respect more than myself the wish of its smallest section. (Hear, Ihe jr.) But there are certain emergencies in which it becomes necessary to show tbat a men will not be crushed; and I felt tbe circumstances under whicb so unmanly an attack was made upon me justified me iv re° taining my position for upwards of twenty minutes, not, I have reason to know, in opposition to tiie feeling of the leading men of ull parties. There-; fore, I could not justify myself in Bitting down and ackowledging myself overawed by a small and contemptible 1 mob. (Immense cheering). For the; House of Commons collectively I eater-! tain unbounded respect, and 1 would bow Bubuii£sively to. ibe dictum of the! Speaker or the vpte of any considerable! •number of its members; but can I con-! eeal from myself, cap any practical man .conceal from bimeelf, that tbere are many members in that House who are beneath contempt; and, because a small; herd ofnoembeie, whom individually and', collectively I despise, congregate like; skulking cowards in Jbe remote corners' "of. the House to aßsai! me with disgraceful uproar, wbs it for your repre-' sentative, gentlemen, to fall down before them like a craven slave ? (Immense cheering.) No, gentlemen ; I expressed what I thought. I told them the time would come when they would-be obliged to listen to me, and -so long as I potßess tbe confidence ot my constituents, so long as I meet 'tbem with minds so firm, and hearts so sound towards me, I will take oare ti fed nee my promise to, practice. I will speak, and tbey shallhe&t me. (Tumultuous cheering.)