His faults as a debater
had always been that he loved to "score," even though the score
might be obtained by a sacrifice of candour, and that he seemed
often to argue merely for arguing's sake. It was said of the great
Lord Holland that he always put his opponent's case better than the
opponent put it for himself. No one ever said this of Mr. Balfour;
and his tendency to sophistication led Mr. Humphrey Paul to predict
that his name "would always be had in honour wherever hairs were
split." His manner and address (except when he was debating) were
always courteous and conciliatory; those who were brought into
close contact with him liked him, and those who worked under him
loved him. Socially, he was by no means as expansive as the leader
of a party should be. He was surrounded by an adoring clique, and
reminded one of the dignitaries satirized by Sydney Smith: "They
live in high places with high people, or with little people who
depend upon them. They walk delicately, like Agag. They hear only
one sort of conversation, and avoid bold, reckless men, as a lady
veils herself from rough breezes."
But, unfortunately, a Prime Minister, though he may "avoid" reckless
men, cannot always escape them, and may sometimes be forced to
count them among his colleagues.
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