Page:Eminent English liberals in and out of Parliament.djvu/63

 His also was the clause which conferred the municipal franchise on female ratepayers. He procured for the working-men of London a most desirable boon in the extension of the hours of polling; and in every thing appertaining to the better representation of the people in Parliament he has taken a leading part. On the all-important question of the redistribution of political power in particular, he is, it is not too much to say, the greatest authority in the House. Like John Bright, he loves the big constituencies, and would, as far as possible, make them all numerically equal.

He is not ordinarily an amusing speaker; but one of his speeches on the unreformed corporations will rank among the wittiest delivered by any member since he entered the House. His collected speeches on electoral reform, the civil list, free trade, free land, and free schools, are a ready repertory of trustworthy facts, which ought to be in the hands of every reformer. With respect to the Zulu war, in the session of 1879, he was intrusted with the lead in opposition to the Government policy,—a sufficient indication of the respect entertained for his judgment in critical issues.

In every department he is a friend of economy. In Parliament he is ever vigilant, and never fussy. When he speaks, it is always to contribute some new fact or unused argument to the debate; and he never fails to catch the ear of the House, which is never insensible to straightforwardness, manly bearing, and unremitting attention to parliamentary duty. He is well versed in the forms of the House. Above all, he has honesty and excellent common sense to guide his steps aright.