But in this political
mill of ours in England, a man cannot always find the way open to
do things. It does not often happen that an English statesman can
go in and make a great score off his own bat. But not the less is
he bound to play the game and to go to the wicket when he finds
that his time has come.
'There are, I think, two things for you to consider in this
matter, and two only. The first is your capacity, and the other is
your duty. A man may have found by experience that he is unfitted
for public life. You and I have known men in regard to whom we
have thoroughly wished that such experience had been reached. But
this is a matter in which a man who doubts himself is bound to
take the evidence of those around him. The whole party is most
anxious for your co-operation. If this be so,--and I make you the
assurance from most conclusive evidence,--you are bound to accept
the common consent of your political friends on that matter. You
perhaps think that a certain period of your life you failed. They
all agree with me that you did not fail.
Pages:
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303