any excuse good enough to make it surge into public view

[Klpno]

Hello everyone
I'd like to ask what the phrases "would have failed at" and "any excuse good enough to make it surge into public view" means in the following context.

"Forget it," he muttered. An enormous fungus stood beside the trail -- a pillar topped with fruiting bodies that bled a bright purple light. It was a common species whose name he had already forgotten. Staring at that apparition of rot and death, Jopale remarked with the coldest possible voice, "It's not as if the world is going to end soon.
"But it won't end," Do-ane said.
He gave a little sniff, and that's when he discovered that he was crying. It was the sort of manipulative gesture Jopale might have attempted and would have failed at. But his tears were as honest as everything he had ever done, a fabulous pain hiding inside him, any excuse good enough to make it surge into public view.

1. Does the phrase "and would have failed at" imply that if his tears were false he would have not reach the desired effect?

2. What does the phrase "any excuse good enough to make it surge into public view" mean in this context?

[Alan]

Hi,

Yes, you are right with (1) With (2) I would suggest: this was any reason that would be sufficient to make it come out/rise up right in front of the public.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Womens' Day

[Klpno]

Hi Alan

Thank you very much!