The Home Rule Bill Division.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3005, 21 June 1893, Page 1

The Home Rule Bill Division.

Dunsdin " Star's " correspondent.^ ,; London, April 88. '< The winding up of the debate on the ;' second reading of the Home Rale Bill !; last Friday was not characterised by any specially exciting features. The Mouse, of cours^ early in the evening, , filled to suffocation. The Prince of Wales occupied his usual place over the clock. Prince Christian sat on hi» ;. right, and the Peers' and Strangers' \ Galleries presented that inasved-up ap- -; pearance which lends the last touch of inspiration to an orator. The side .. galleries were both filled, first by Con-' ~ servatives to the right of the Speaker, *• anxious to hear Mr Balfour, and speedily by the Liberals crowding in ; in anticipation of Mr Gladstone'sspeech. The Premier, loudly cheered, ', arrived in good time. It was evident from his dress and the flow er in his 3 coat that he had found time to dine"''■"* out. He was the only Minister in,"" dinner dress, Mr Balfour, by way of contrast being in morning dress, most of his colleagues wearing the white necktie of a more or less blameless dinner. It was curious and significant of the unreality c.en cf th:s climax of the - long debate that Mr Gladstone, intending to fallow the leader of the Opposition, ma ie no notes of hi 3 speech, sitting with arms folded and closed eyes, but a'ert, as was once or twice shown when he had occasion to correct misconceptions «f fact disclosed by Mr Balfour. That, right hon gentleman was in his best form from the House of Commons point of view, recalling old times, when, oa the other side of the table, he, as Chief Secretary for Ireland,, stood at bay against Mr Parnell and his compact followers irritated with with some new development of coercion. The reminiscence was strengthened by the frequent conflict in which Mr Balfour, joyously going back to his old Chief-Secretary manner, came in conflict with the Irish members. Mr Tim •Heaiy has through the debate observed a self denying ordinance, refraiuing from ordered speech. To-night he made up some lost time by a running oomiuent^ry on Mr Balfour's speech. " Where's your green flag?" he once shouted oufc when Mr Balfour was describing the future of Ireland, " if thi3 precious Bill passe--," beholding with prophetic pye the houghing of cattle and the extermination of the landlord. oir William Harcourt arrive i at halfpast eleven, and was greeted with friendly welcome by Mr Gladstone, passing out for a brief interval at a aiouient when even Mr Balfour's lively speech began to flag on an inconveniently crowded audience gathered on a suddenly summer night. ■ •Over •©*-*. Mr Balfour's qirpg was the assertion that all majorities are stupid. This was obviously intended to apply to current circumstance-, but he was hilariously reminded that there was also a majority in the last Parliament. Better still was the retort that came from below the gangway opposite, when the latter added that he represented. both the minority and the majority. "The stnpid majority," said a voice that recalled Mr Storey's. It was ten minutes to midnight when Mr Gladstone found the opportunity he had in advance looked for at eleven o'clock. He received an enthusiastic ovation, being constrained to stand silent at the table for some moments as the cheers rose again and again. He was evidently in splendid voice, and in the highest spirits. Early in his speech he disposed of what he called the copious mass of matter discharged since the debate opened, by characterising it in four phrases. The first of the powerful weapons wielded by the Opposition was bold assertion; the second, persistent exaggeration; the third, constant misconstruction; the fourth, copious, arbitrary, and baseless prophecy. This admirable and concise summary might well have sufficed for the occasion; but. the Premier proceeded with unfailing vigor for a little more than an .hour to discuss what he insisted was the question: "How is Ireland to be governed?" That, he showed, had not been answered by Mr Balfour or others. Twenty years of firm government was Lord Salisbury's panacea. What had -ome of that nostrum now? Lord bee -, fy nac i had his chance seven Salisbu "Never again," said Mr years ago. 'nting to Mr Balfour, Gladstone, pcu. cheers, ''will you amid thundering „ +. yo»r back to have a majority of 120 a. 4 #£ainss enable you to coerce Irelau. ' <M#i4 the wishes of her people." Even . '"* the heat of controversy and driven into a corner by the prolixity of others, Mr Gladstone found time to pay a warm and graceful compliment to the maiden speech of Mr Austen Chamberlain. " It was," he said, turning towards his old colleague, who bowed low his acknowledgments, " dear and refreshing to a father's heart." It was on the stroke of one o'clock when Mr Gladstone concluded his speech with a magnificent peroration, in which, with undiminished energy of voice and action, he cited the long catalogue of Liberal achievements on behalf of the people, and claimed that this new work for Ireland would bs amongthe greatest and the most blessed. When the Premier resumed his seat Mr Bartley rose with the obvious intention of continuing the debate. Amid loud cheers Mr Morley moved the closure. The Speaker promptly put the question, and, Mr Bariley receiving no support, it was decided that tho question should forthwith be put. Technically the question was ; whether Sir Michael Hicks-Beach'g amendment for the rejection of the Bill should be substituted for the pro* ; posal to read it a second time. The ayesand noes shouting in response when the question was put seemed proity '„ equally divided. Some humorist cried ! out " Agreed! agreed!" and, amid the.

laughter which greeted this sally the crowded House went out to the division -—a long process watched with much interest by the Prince of Wains. At a J quarter-past one, the division still in pro- j gress, Mr Gladstone was seen making his way through the throng. In an instant the Liberal party leaped to their feet,, and with waving hats and strident cheers greeted the right hon. gentleman. Mr "W. Redmond's voice was heard through the cries shouting out .v Parnell should not be forgotten this light." A few minutes later the whips who had been " telling " for the majority arrived, and a dead silence fell noon the 'Home, broken when Mr Mijoribanks announced that 304 had voted for tha amendment and 347 against At this majority of 43 for the Bill there was another burst of cheering. The amendment being rejected, no opposition was offered to the second reading, and the crowded assembly broke up, Mr Gladstone on his departure receiving another ovation from the upstanding Ministerialists,