Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 5.djvu/267

 CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

of their going would be a masterpiece of tactical skill. Tactics ! Tactics ! Ladies and gentlemen, the country is tired of their tactics. It would have been better for them if they had had less of tactics and more of reality. But they have lived for some years on nothing but tactics, and cow they have died of tactics.

Two characteristics are outstanding above all others in the late administration: first of all, their infinite cleverness, which was not always clever; and, secondly, an inexhaustible fund of self -approbation. Of this last quality they were possessed of so much that they have even now some of it left for their obituary notices, for you will observe that each of them is going about giving himself and his colleags the most marvel- ous testimony. They even carry self-esteem so far that they convinced themselves that they were the only people in this kingdom who could form a government, and that if any one else tried the effort, any cabinet which could be got together would be at once distasteful to the country and destitute of strength and unity. You see here in what the wonderful tactics consist. That was the design that lurked in the December resignation. And it has come to naught; for a Government has been formed amid the respect of our oppo- nents, which I gratefully acknowledge, and amid the confidence and satisfaction of our friends. What lesson, then, are we to draw — for let us always be taught by the conduct of our enemies — what lesson are we to draw from their discom- 227

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