_House of Commons, Monday Night, June 8_.--I knew DYKE first when
(good many years ago now) as DIZZY's whip he hunted in couple with
ROWLAND WINN; then always called HART DYKE. Like many other young men
he has in interval lost his HART, and now known as Sir WILLIAM DYKE.
Curious thing, as SARK reminds me, how absorbent is the name of
WILLIAM. Quite probable that before _Black-Eyed Susan's_ friend came
prominently on the stage he had some other Christian name, sunk when
he was promoted to shadow of yard-arm. Certainly there is an equally
eminent man sitting opposite DYKE in House to-night, who like him is
"Sir WILLIAM" to the present generation, and was VERNON HARCOURT to an
elder one.
DYKE, under whatever name, done excellently well to-night. Holding
comparatively minor appointment in Ministry, suddenly finds himself
in charge of principal measure of Session. Handicapped, moreover, with
recollections of time when he has uncompromisingly declared himself
against the very principle he now embodies in Bill, and invites House
to add to Statute Book.
That was first hedge for DYKE to take, and he went over in plucky
style that threw the scorner off his trail. Didn't live in close
communication with DIZZY through six long years for nothing. Not
likely to forget what happened in very earliest days of Parliament
of 1874, when DIZZY for first time found himself not only in office
but in power. During election campaign DIZZY, speaking in the safety
of Buckinghamshire, had made some wild statement about easing the
chains of Ireland. Simply designed to gain Irish vote; forgotten as
soon as spoken. But ROBERT MONTAGU--where, by the way, is ROBERT
MONTAGU?--treasured these things up in his heart, and when DIZZY
appeared in the House, Leader of triumphant majority, asked him what
he was going to do about it?
"It is sometime since the observations referred to were made," said
DIZZY, "and--er--a good deal has happened in the interval."
DYKE, recalling and admitting his former statements on Free
Education, did not attempt to minimise their import. "But." he said,
button-holing House as it were, and treating it quite confidentially,
"the fact is we all change our minds." House laughed at this as it
had laughed at DIZZY seventeen years ago, and DYKE, absolved and
encouraged, went forward with his speech.
Not a brilliant oration in any way; neither exordium nor peroration,
and the middle occasionally a little mixed. But a good sensible
straightforward speech, and if DYKE had done no more than show that
an important Ministerial measure could be explained within limit of an
hour, he would not have lived in vain.
_Business done._--Education Bill introduced.
_Tuesday_.--Nothing at first sight in personal appearance of HERBERT
THOMAS KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN that suggests a swan. Fancy I have heard
something of these birds being addicted to the habit of breaking
forth into song when convinced of approaching dissolution. That, I
suppose, is how the swan was suggested to the mind when just now,
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN rose from behind Ministers, and began to chant his
threnody. Resolution on which Education Bill grafted brought up for
report stage; agreed to, and HART DYKE about to bring in his Bill.
Then from the back seat rose a sturdy yeoman figure, and a powerful
voice was uplifted in denunciation of the Bill and of a Ministry that
had betrayed the trust of the Conservative Party. It was, so the swan
sang, a step on the road to Socialism. He feared it had come to pass
that dangerous measures are more likely to emanate from the Treasury
Bench than from the Front Bench opposite.
Liberals roared with delighted laughter and cheers; the Conservatives
sat glum and ill-at-ease. OLD MORALITY's white teeth gleamed with a
spasmodic smile. As for JOKIM he folded his arms, and bit his lips and
frowned.
"What antiquated nonsense this is!" he muttered, "of course Free
Education is not a Conservative principle. They all protested against
it at the General Election. A year earlier I, who happened at the
time to be numbered in the Liberal ranks, put my back against the
wall, and, picturing the evils that would befall my country if its
institutions were thus demoralised, I said I would die before I would
lend a hand to free the schools. But you see, TOBY, _I haven't died_,
and that changes the whole situation. Not only enables me to retain
my place in Government bringing in Free Education, but permits
me, as CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, actually to find the means
for carrying out the system. Can't understand a fellow like this
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN sticking to his principles when it becomes
expedient to swallow them. He's a disgrace to a family that counts
BRABOURNE as its head."
[Illustration: "A Progressive Conservative." (_Vide Dod._)]
"HUGESSEN's a good fellow," said ISAACSON; "wears well, but is
politically a fossil. Now _I'm_ a progressive Conservative, which I
think you'll find, TOBY, my boy, to be about the time of day."
_Business done_.--Assisted Education Bill; firmly led up to table by
HART DYKE.
_Wednesday_.--Lively fight round Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. Ascot
in vain held forth its attractions; supporters of the Bill hoped
opponents would go; opponents came down rather expecting HENEAGE's
virtue would have given way, and Ascot would have claimed him as its
own. But everybody there--MAKINS's men with long list of Amendments
warranted to keep things going till half-past five, when progress
must be reported, and chance of Bill for present Session lost. MAKINS
himself in high oratorical feather. OSBORNE-AP-MORGAN, having made a
proposition and subsequently withdrawn it, MAKINS, putting on severest
judicial aspect, observed, "It is all very well for the Right Hon.
and learned Gentleman to make a legal JONAH of himself and swallow his
opinions."
"Bless us all!" cried ROWNTREE, looking on with blank amazement,
"MAKINS evidently thinks that JONAH swallowed the whale." Bill
seemed to shatter friendships and dissever old alliances. SQUIRE of
MALWOOD naturally at home in the fray, but rather startling to find
HOME SECRETARY running amuck at CHAMBERLAIN. MATTHEWS in his most
hoity-toity mood; quivered with indignation; thumped the table; shook
a forensic forefinger at the undesignedly offending JOSEPH, and,
generally, went on the rampage. As for HENEAGE, he filled up any
little pause in uproar by diving in and moving the Closure. Once,
whilst GEDGE was opposing an Amendment hostile to Bill, HENEAGE dashed
in with his Closure motion. GEDGE's face a study; mingled surprise,
indignation, and ineffable regret mantled his mobile front.
[Illustration: "Bless us all!"]
"To think," he said afterwards, "that just when I was coming to
HENEAGE's help with an argument founded on profound study and pointed
with legal lore, he should suddenly jump up, lower his head, and, as
it were, butt me in the stomach with the Closure. It is more than I
can at the moment comprehend."
GEDGE so flurried that when Members returned, after Division on
Closure, he being, in accordance with the rule, seated and wearing his
hat, wanted to argue out the question with COURTNEY.
"I submit, Sir," he said, "that the Hon. Member, in moving the
Closure, controverted Rule 186."
The Chairman: "I think the Hon. Member can scarcely have read the
Rule."