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He seemed to me to stand alone without an equal； the greatest man in
British political life。 Some men one sees through and understands；
some one cannot see into or round because they are of opaque clay；
but about Evesham I had a sense of things hidden as it were by depth
and mists； because he was so big and atmospheric a personality。 No
other contemporary has had that effect upon me。 I've sat beside him
at dinners； stayed in houses with himhe was in the big house party
at Champneystalked to him； sounded him； watching him as I sat
beside him。 I could talk to him with extraordinary freedom and a
rare sense of being understood。 Other men have to be treated in a
special manner； approached through their own mental dialect；
flattered by a minute regard for what they have said and done。
Evesham was as widely and charitably receptive as any man I have
ever met。 The common politicians beside him seemed like rows of
stuffy little rooms looking out upon the sea。
And what was he up to？ What did HE think we were doing with
Mankind？ That I thought worth knowing。
I remember his talking on one occasion at the Hartsteins'； at a
dinner so tremendously floriferous and equipped that we were almost
forced into duologues； about the possible common constructive
purpose in politics。
〃I feel so much；〃 he said； 〃that the best people in every party
converge。 We don't differ at Westminster as they do in the country
towns。 There's a sort of extending common policy that goes on under
every government； because on the whole it's the right thing to do；
and people know it。 Things that used to be matters of opinion
become matters of scienceand cease to be party questions。〃
He instanced education。
〃Apart；〃 said I； 〃from the religious question。〃
〃Apart from the religious question。〃
He dropped that aspect with an easy grace； and went on with his
general theme that political conflict was the outcome of
uncertainty。 〃Directly you get a thing established； so that people
can say； 'Now this is Right；' with the same conviction that people
can say water is a combination of oxygen and hydrogen； there's no
more to be said。 The thing has to be done。 。 。 。〃
And to put against this effect of Evesham； broad and humanely
tolerant； posing as the minister of a steadily developing
constructive conviction； there are other memories。
Have I not seen him in the House； persistent； persuasive；
indefatigable； and by all my standards wickedly perverse； leaning
over the table with those insistent movements of his hand upon it；
or swaying forward with a grip upon his coat lapel； fighting with a
diabolical skill to preserve what are in effect religious tests；
tests he must have known would outrage and humiliate and injure the
consciences of a quarterand that perhaps the best quarterof the
youngsters who come to the work of elementary education？
In playing for points in the game of party advantage Evesham
displayed at times a quite wicked unscrupulousness in the use of his
subtle mind。 I would sit on the Liberal benches and watch him； and
listen to his urbane voice； fascinated by him。 Did he really care？
Did anything matter to him？ And if it really mattered nothing； why
did he trouble to serve the narrowness and passion of his side？ Or
did he see far beyond my scope； so that this petty iniquity was
justified by greater； remoter ends of which I had no intimation？
They accused him of nepotism。 His friends and family were certainly
well cared for。 In private life he was full of an affectionate
intimacy； he pleased by being charmed and pleased。 One might think
at times there was no more of him than a clever man happily
circumstanced； and finding an interest and occupation in politics。
And then came a glimpse of thought； of imagination； like the sight
of a soaring eagle through a staircase skylight。 Oh； beyond
question he was great！ No other contemporary politician had his
quality。 In no man have I perceived so sympathetically the great
contrast between warm； personal things and the white dream of
statecraft。 Except that he had it seemed no hot passions； but only
interests and fine affections and indolences； he paralleled the
conflict of my life。 He saw and thought widely and deeply； but at
times it seemed to me his greatness stood over and behind the
reality of his life； like some splendid servant； thinking his own
thoughts； who waits behind a lesser master's chair。 。 。 。
8
Of course； when Evesham talked of this ideal of the organised state
becoming so finely true to practicability and so clearly stated as
to have the compelling conviction of physical science； he spoke
quite after my heart。 Had he really embodied the attempt to realise
that； I could have done no more than follow him blindly。 But
neither he nor I embodied that； and there lies the gist of my story。
And when it came to a study of others among the leading Tories and
Imperialists the doubt increased； until with some at last it was
possible to question whether they had any imaginative conception of
constructive statecraft at all； whether they didn't opaquely accept
the world for what it was； and set themselves single…mindedly to
make a place for themselves and cut a figure in it。
There were some very fine personalities among them： there were the
great peers who had administered Egypt； India； South Africa；
FramboyaCromer； Kitchener； Curzon； Milner； Gane； for example。 So
far as that easier task of holding sword and scales had gone； they
had shown the finest qualities； but they had returned to the
perplexing and exacting problem of the home country； a little
glorious； a little too simply bold。 They wanted to arm and they
wanted to educate； but the habit of immediate necessity made them
far more eager to arm than to educate； and their experience of
heterogeneous controls made them overrate the need for obedience in
a homogeneous country。 They didn't understand raw men； ill…trained
men； uncertain minds； and intelligent women； and these are the
things that matter in England。 。 。 。 There were also the great
business adventurers； from Cranber to Cossington （who was now Lord
Paddockhurst）。 My mind remained unsettled； and went up and down the
scale between a belief in their far…sighted purpose and the
perception of crude vanities； coarse ambitions； vulgar
competitiveness； and a mere habitual persistence in the pursuit of
gain。 For a time I saw a good deal of CossingtonI wish I had kept
a diary of his talk and gestures； to mark how he could vary from day
to day between a POSEUR； a smart tradesman； and a very bold and
wide…thinking political schemer。 He had a vanity of sweeping
actions； motor car pounces； Napoleonic rushes； that led to violent
ineffectual changes in the policy of his papers； and a haunting
pursuit by parallel columns