Each was influential both as a political writer and as a practising politician. Each was a strong party man, and yet each broke with his part of a critical moment on an issue of principle.

Burke split the Whig Party because his leaders would not support him in preaching war against the French Revolution. Morley, having held senior cabinet positions in the Governments led by Gladstone, Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith, resigned from Asquith's government in August 1914, after he had failed to dissuade it from making war on Germany.