THE FRACAS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8580, 6 September 1893, Page 5

THE FRACAS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MELBOURNE, August 31. The London correspondent of the Argus has forwarded by telegraph from Albany the following, under-date July 29th :—"The last of a discreditable farce," as Mr Chamberlain, leader of the Liberal Unionists termed it, was performed in the House of Commons last night in more senses than oue. The concluding remarks of Mr Chamberlain juat before the Home Rule Bill was finally closured previous to its passage through Committee, were iv a small degree responsible for what followed, as hie intense bitterness and irony roused the Irish Liberals to a pitch of frenzy. The guillotine, in the form oE the closiire, was to fall at ten o'clock, and Mr Chamberlain rose a few miuutes before that hour to have the last fling. With his eye on the clock, he uttered what now is a historical sentence, " But this is not the same scheme as that which was received a short time ago with such enthusiasm." The sheer with which this was" given was incomparable, aud the Liberals grew white in the face. Proceeding, Mr Chamberlain declared that "If the Prime Minister calls it black they say it is good; if he calls it white they say it is better. His voije is alft-'ays the voice of a god! Never since the time of Herod has there been such slavish adulation." At the word "Herod,"' Mi* T. P. O'Connor shouted out *' Judas," which was taken up by the Irish benches. The Tories responded, crying "No," and demanded that the word, be rioted by the Chairman. The Right Hori. J. MelJor, Chairman of Committee, took refuge in the plea that he had not heard the epithet, thus hoping that, the staim tvould blow over, biit the subterfuge was too palpable. He endeavoured to call for a division on the clause under discussion, but the Conservatives refused to leave the House for the lobbies until justice had been done and the word "Judas" officially noted. Mr Gladstone, all passive, never stretched a hand to help Mr Mellor, but there was no act of hostility till Mr J. W. Logan, Liberal member for the Harborough Division of Leicester, crossed to the Opposition aide of tiie table in order to speak to Mr Mellor. Mr Edward Carson, Q.C , Conservative member for Dublin University, called to him saying "Get away from here, you and your gagging gang are out of order here." Mr Logan's action being contrary to the unvaried etiquette of the House, Mr Logan replied "Very well then, I'll sit and talk to you," at the same time taking Mr Balfours seat, which was alongside Mr Carson. This was the incident which led the van in the scene of the evening. Mr W. Hayes Fisher, Conservative member for Fulbain, seized Mr Logan's head arid got it in chancery; Sir E. Ashmead Jiartlett, Conservative member for Ecclesall, seizing him in front, and threw him bodi • to the lioor of the House ; then the fighting commenced. Members, it is said, fought like bargees or swore like troopers; they shouted, wrestled, pushed, and cursed each other with fierce eyes, faces white or flaming, and dress disarranged. But the majority of the members stood and gazed bewildered, or tore members from each other, many in this way losing their coats, vests, collars, ties, and in a few cases their shirts were half torn off their backs. Mr Gladstone meauwliie sat pale and still on the Treasury Bench with a frightened expression on his face. The irishmen rushed for Colonel E. J. Sauuderson, Conservative member for Armagh North, who was seriously hit on the head, but returned the blow by smartly punching the face of Mr Eugene Creau, Ixationalist member for Ossory, following this up with a blow in the face of Mr Michael Austin, Nationalist ?nember for Limerjck West> % WarniiJng to his work, the OoliJueistood on the floor of the House, hitting straight from the shoulder at all and sundry. Mr Tim Healey, Nationalist member for Louth North, dauced about and knocked or pushed jown many members. Prominent among the members who endeavoured to stop the row were Lord R. Churchill and Mr John Burns, and Sir Alb rt Rollit caught Sir Ashmead Bartlett, and rated him soundly on his attack on Mr Logan, which was, to say the least, unfair, as Mr Hayes Fisher had' , already had Mr Logan's head in chancery. Mr Logan declares that he remonstrated with Mr Carson for hie impertinent language, and, as lie was in a frightened state, instead of remaining in a standing position on the floor of the House, he took a seat by Mr Carson, when, lie was at once assaulted by Mr Hayes Fisher. He had no intention ot creating any disturbance, and never raised his hand against any . member; When the din and turmoil was at ■ its higheat, the visitors ( in the strangers' pallery rose aud hissed loudly, crying "Shame." This had a momentary effect on the House, but the fighting was soon worse than ever, and. in their eagerness Members clambered over benches to join «iv the fray, either .as or as combatauts. One of the back seats was broken, but it was noticeable as. being ■ left lying on the floor, and was not used as a weapon. Meanwhile the Chairman of Committee sat helpless in his chair-till some of the cooler members shouted " Speaker, Speaker, send for Mr Speaker; wo will not leave the House till the Speaker comes." Mr Mellor was still paralysed by the scene before him, till Mc Balfour privately appealed to him to do something and end the awful scena. The Speaker was then sent for ia hot haste, aud Mr Peel entered the House cool, calm, end dignified. The effect was nothing short of magical; the House almost instantly calmed, and his entrance was greeted with cheers. Grave and stern, he took bis chair, and after a whispered conference with Mr Mellor, the Speaker called upou4he leaders of the House to explain the incideV.i. This was done by, MY Gladstone and Mγ Balfour, whereupon the Speaker demanded an apology from Mr O'Connor, who most humbly regretted the disturbance, and the' Speaker tuen declared the incident closed, and deprecated: further reference to the matter for the sake of the dignity ami interests of the House. The Speaker has never been more dignifkd than on this present occasion. Feeling, however, still rai* so highly that the amendment which was tinder discussion Was not put to division, the leaders fearing that directly members were again brought into close contact in the' lobbies further fights would ensue. Therefore, for the first time in the history of the House a division which had been arranged for was abandoned ; the doora were unlocked and the clause was allowed to be negatived without division.