Page:My Life in Two Hemispheres, volume 2.djvu/66

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MY LIFE IN TWO HEMISPHERES

raise himself, and was ready to bear with complacency whatever mischance befell his country.

Of the men who had no sinister ambition to promote, but went into Parliament for public ends, the most notable were Frederick Lucas and George Henry Moore. The one was a type of the bourgeoisie, refined by culture and a high sense of duty; the other a type of the gentry, refined by spiritualism and courage. Lucas was soon recognised as a skilled debater. He had serenity and temper, and was habitually deferential to the House, but under these graces there lay, as no one could fail to see, "genuine, solid, old Teutonic pluck." With time he would have become much more than a great debater. Of the qualities which constitute an orator, he possessed profound conviction and wide knowledge. His lucid narrative arrested attention by the mesmeric feeling that he was uttering well-weighed convictions. He had mastered the case of Ireland, not only with his intellect but with his sympathy, and his audience felt that he was telling them what he entirely believed to be true.

Moore was more agile and lively, had greater skill and address in social controversy, and understood the temper of the House better, for he belonged to the predominant class by birth, and had been their associate from an early age in studies and sports. It was a serious drawback to his usefulfulness that he was impatient of contradiction. Among men whom he esteemed and who were his intellectual peers, he was a charming companion—frank, cordial, and winning. He was entirely sincere in desiring the success of the Irish cause; but he had seen much of life on its seamy side, and had only limited confidence in its speedy attainment. He did not give the impression of a man who brings the force of a strong character to promote an end which he passionately desires; and though he pleased or provoked an audience almost at will he rarely controlled or persuaded it in any considerable degree.

The League members did not permit the party Whips on either side to communicate with them, and did not even ask information from the Government, except across the House. Sergeant Shee was an exception, to a limited and justifiable extent. It was necessary to ask facilities for our Bill, and, as