RAND(Y)OM REMINISCENCES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1205, 5 April 1895, Page 10

RAND(Y)OM REMINISCENCES.

A correspondent (“Grandophiios") sends ns the following interesting notes on the late Lord Randolph Churchill:— Sir,—l read with a keen relish the very interesting notes in your columns re the late Lord Randolph Churchill. Perhaps you will permit me to mention a joke (I think not generally known) Lord Randolph had in 1882 at Mr Gladstone’s expense. I was present in the gallery of the House of Commons at the time, and 1 the joke took immensely. Mr Gladstone had referred to his Irish Land Act of 1881 as the infant Hercules strangling the twin serpents of murder and sedition in his muscular grip. He had at that time appointed his son, Herbert Gladstone (then a very young man), a junior lord of the Treasury. Lord Randolph (I’m sure purposely just to get a rise out of the G.Q.M.) misunderstood Mr Gladstone, He said, “ The Prime Minister has compared the junior, the very junior lord of the Treasury to the infant Hercules, etc.* “ I beg the noble Lord’s pardon," inter-

rupted Mr Gladstone gravely, “ I said the hand Act Was the infant Hercules." “ Oh," said Lord Randolph with charming innocence, “ I thought it was the result of parental pride." After Mr Gladstone received the title of “ G.O.M " from Sir William Harcourt, Punch christened Lord Randolph (then becoming a prominent member of the House) “ Grandolpb," or “ Grandolphus," and Sir Richard Cross “ Grand Cross," because he was slightly pompous and terribly conscious of his own dignity and importance, being especi* ally irritated and astounded by the frequent laughter which greeted his remarks.. The low chuckling laugh of Sir William Harcourt specially fetched him. “ The Right Hon Baronet laughed,"

said “.Grand Cross" sharply. Sir William with a broad and bland smile, and amid much laughter, denied the soft impeachment. But re the “ Marshall and Snelgrove" incident to speak of Lord Cross as a mere, tame, smug, respectable, fussy, small-minded mediocrity, was scarcely doing him justice. At times and on occasion he spoke with real force and fire. In May, 1877, I was in the gallery of the House of Commons. Mr Gladstone had assailed the foreign policy of Lord Beaconsfield with the most tremendous, terrible and bitter invective ever heard within the walls of Parliament. On that occasion Mr Cross (as he then was) defending the Ministry retorted upon Mr Gladstone with a power and vehemence equal to his own. He challenged Mr Gladstone to produce proofs (he positively yelled the word “ proofs," dashing his hand[ on the red despatch box amid ringing cheers), and declared in fierce and vehement tones that Mr Gladstone had not brought forward one tittle of evidence in support of his lightning wholesale denunciations.. It was regarded on all sides at the time as a splendid fighting speech, the best made on the Conservative side. Anyway it completely roused Mr Gladstone, who fairly smashed his hand on notes and blue books combined as who should say that’s my evidence. Somehow Mr Cross, when he was created a Baronet, lost his fire. Between 1874 and 1880 he made one of the best and most efficient Home Secretaries England has ever had. Reverting to Lord R. Churchill’s style of attacking opponents, especially the G.O.M. It was peculiar, i.e., when he spoke from below the gangway ’as leader of the Fourth Party. He would come down to the house in tog dress about 11 p.m., flushed with a good dinner and with one foot planted prominently forward, and with outstretched arm (shaking his forefinger at Mr Gladstone in a way which texribly irritated him) would fairly “go" for the old man eloquent. It was said he was the only man not afraid of Mr Gladstone, perhaps barring Parnell. Mr Gladstone by-the-by had been bearing the burden and heat of the Treasury bench for hours before the time which would admit of the appearance of the younger man with less stamina physically and a weaker constitution. I believe it was Lord Randolph who coined the phrase “authorised version" of the liberal programme after Mr Gladstone’s conversion to Home Rule.