At all events, his first speech following the introduction of the Home Rule Bill was a ghastly failure.

It was listened to in almost unbroken silence from the beginning to the end--not that the speech had not plenty of cleverness in it, the small cleverness of small points--but it was badly delivered.

It did not seem to rise to the heights expected on such an occasion; in short, it was a disappointment.

Only once or twice did the Leader of the Opposition succeed in rousing his friends to even an approach to enthusiasm.
Speaking of the amount of money put to the credit of Ireland, he declared the Government admitted they had been beaten in a conflict with the forces of law and order, and that this was the war indemnity which had to be paid--a hit that very much delighted Mr.Chamberlain.

The portion of the speech which created sensation was that in which he alluded to the use of the veto.