It marked a great step in his career. For it proved to the whole world that he had behind him a people that would support him in his direst need. With such a support behind him a man can serenely face the future. ----- [41] A letter from British Columbia on September 18th, 1899, records his horror, and his resolution to return (_Du Parcq._ ii. 216). [42] His first public utterance was on October 27th, just before the House rose. [43] _Sir William Butler: An Autobiography._ By Lieut.-General Sir W. F. Butler, G.C.B. (London. Constable & Co., Ltd. 1911.) [44] He made a remarkable speech before the war at Manchester, in January 1899, defending the use of force in cases of defence. [45] See the article by Mr. Herbert Sidebotham in _The Atlantic Monthly_ for November 1919, in which he discusses the question. [46] Now (1920) Major Richard Lloyd George. Both Mr. Lloyd George’s sons fought in the war, and both became majors. CHAPTER X FOR WALES AND FOR ENGLAND “No poor man can afford to be ignorant; leave that to the rich.”—_Mr. Lloyd George at Hartley_ (1913). MR. LLOYD GEORGE was not to remain idle long. In 1902 the Conservative wing of the Unionist combination once again asserted itself. The war was over. The Unionists found themselves with that great affair wound up and the whole world before them. It was a tempting position. They were still in supreme command of a Parliament which had five years to run. The House of Lords was their obedient servant. They could practically pass what Bills they liked. It was almost too much strain on human nature to expect that they should not pass some of the Bills that they really wanted. True, there had been certain promises made during the General Election of 1900 which were rather difficult to explain. Various Unionist leaders had indiscreetly laid it down that that Election was for the war and the war alone. But the Government seemed content to rely on the humane view once put forward by an M.P. victorious through the strength of many promises—that promises made in the heat of an Election do not really count. So in 1902 they took the bit in their mouths and boldly brought in a Bill throwing the Voluntary Schools on to the rates. It was the very policy which had been openly declared impossible from the front Conservative bench in 1896, and it was known to be extremely distasteful to Mr. Chamberlain.