For, first, the speech of the Irish or the Liberal member consumed so much time in itself--and then one speech justified another; and thus the speech by the Irishman, or the Liberal, would give an excellent excuse for another series of harangues by the Obstructives.

And this brings me to describe one of the portents of the present House of Commons which has excited a great deal of attention and a great deal of unfeigned admiration.

As speakers of eloquence--as Obstructives--as Parliamentarians of exhaustless resources--as gladiators, tireless, brave, and cool--and, again, as stormy Parliamentary petrels--fierce, disorderly, passionate--the Irish members have been known to the House of Commons and to all the world during all the long series of years through which they have been fighting out this struggle.

In this Parliament, and at this great hour, they appear in quite another, and perfectly new character.

Amid all the groups of this House they stand out for their unbroken and unbreakable silence, for their unshakable self-control.