SHE HOME RULE BILL DIVISION.

Evening Star, Issue 9161, 16 June 1893, Page 2

SHE HOME RULE BILL DIVISION.

[By Our LijNDdisr.GoRRESPo'NbEXT.I Lokpos, April 28. The winding up of the debate on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill last Friday was not characterised by any specially exciting features. The House, of course, early in the evening, filled to suffocation. The Prince of Wales occupied his usual place over the clock. Prince Christian sat on his right, and the Peers' and Strangers' Galleries presented that uiassed-up appearance which lends the last touch of inspiration to an orator. The side-galleries were both filled, first by Conservatives to the right of the Speaker, anxious to hear Mr Balfour, and by the Liberals crowding in in anticipation of Mr Gladstone's speech. The Premier, loudly -cheered, arrived in good time. It was evident from his dress and the flower in his 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 even of this climax of the long debate that Mr Gladstone, intending to follow the Leader of the Opposition, made no notes of his speech, sitting: with arms folded and closed eyes, but alert, as was once or twice Shown when he had occasion to correct misconceptions of fact disclosed by Mr Balfour. Tnat right hem. gentleman was in his best form from the House of Commons point of view, recalling old times, when; on the other side of the table, he, as Chief Secretary for Ireland, stood at bay against Mr Parnell and his compact followers irritated with sohie new development of coercion. The reminiscence was strengthened by tho frequent conflipt in which Mr Balfour, joyously going ba<jk to. his old Chief-Secretary manner, came in conflict with the Irish members. Mr Tim Healy has through the debate observed a self-denying ordinance, refraining from ordered speech. To-night he made up some lost time by a,running commentary on Mr Balfour's speech. "Where's your green flag ?" he once shouted out when Mr Balfour was describing the future of Ireland " if this precious Bill passes," beholding with prophetic, eye the houghing of cattle and the extermination of the londlord. Sir William Harcourt arrived at half-past eleven, unrt was greeted with friendly welcome Mr Gladstone, passing out for a kief interval at a moment when even Mr Balfour'6 lively speech began to flag.on an inconveniently crowded audience gathered on a suddenly summer night* One of Mr Balfour's quips was the assertion that all majorities are stupid. This was obviously intended to apply to current circumstances, but he was hilariously reminded that there was also a majority in the last Parliament. Better still was the [ retort that came from below tho gangway opposite, when the latter added that he represented both the minority and the majority. "The stupid 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. H« received an enthusiastic ovation, being constrained to stand silent at the table for sonic moments as the cheers rose again and again. He was evidently in splendid voice, and in the highest spirits. Early in his speech lie disposed of what he called the copious mass of matter discharged 6ince the debate opened, by characterising it in four phrase?. The first of the powerful weapons wielded by the Opposition was bold assertion; the second, peristent 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 alittle more than an hour to discuss what he insisted was the question : " How is Ireland to he 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 become of that nostrum now ? Lord Salisbury had had his chance seven years ago* " Never again," said Mr Gladstone, pointing to Mr Balfour, amid thundering cheers, "will you have a majority of 120 at your back to enable yon to coerce Ireland against the wishes of her people." Even amid 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 An*ten Chamberlain. "It was," he said, turning towards his old colleague, who bowed low his acknowledgments, " dear and refreshing to a father's l.eart." It was on the slrokc of one o'clock when Mr Gladstone concluded hiß 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 be among the greatest and the most blessed. When the Premier resumed his seat Mr Bartley rose with obvious intention of continuing the debate. Amid loud cheers Mr Morley moved the closure. The Speaker promptly put the question, and, Mr Bftrtley receiving no support, it was decided that the question should forthwith be put. Tcclmi cally the question was whether Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's amendment for the rejection of the Bill should be substituted for the proposal to read it a second time. The ayes and noes shouted in response when the question was put seemed pretty 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 Wales. At a quarter-jMist one, the division still in progress, 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 "Parnell should not be forgotten this night." A few minutes later the whips who had been " telling " for the majority arrived, and a dead silence fell upon the House, broken when Mr Marjoribanks announced that 304 had voted for the 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 ustanding Ministerialist*.