Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/124

 some time after his retirement from official work in India, Mr. Hume settled in Dulwich and at once threw himself into the work of educating and organizing the constituency with all the force and vigour of his powerful intellect. Mr. Hume was a Radical intensely in earnest, who believed that his time, his wealth, and all his powers were given him in trust for his fellow-creatures.

"The year 1891 saw Mr. Hume hard at work in the constituency. He was elected president of the Dulwich Reform Club, vice-president of the Dulwich and Penge Liberal and Radical Association, and a member of the Executive Council of the Association. During the election of 1892 he acted as the Chairman of the Election Committee for Mr. Arthur Clayden. Sir John Blundell Maple, who had succeeded Mr. Morgan Howard in 1887, was again successful. As- might be expected, this defeat only stimulated Mr. Hume's efforts. At the beginning of 1894 he was elected President of the Liberal Association, and held the office till he passed away.

"For many years Mr. Hume was a constant attendant at the meetings of the Association and presided over the meetings of the Executive Council. With the wonderful charm of his magnetic personality he inspired the oft-defeated Liberals with some of his own intense faith in Liberal principles and their ultimate triumph. A profound believer in the reign of law instead of force, of arbitration instead of war, intensely in earnest in giving to the poorest the advantages of education, equality of opportunity for all was with him a passion. All the movements of the day for the improvement of the lot of the poor of our great city found in him a strong supporter. The progressive policy in London and the country was to him the inseparable outcome of the radical changes which he so ardently desired to