MR PLIMSOLL'S APOLOGY TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2110, 8 October 1875, Page 3

MR PLIMSOLLS APOLOGY TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

In the House of Commons recently, on the reading.of the first Order of the Day, Mr Plimsoll rose amid cheers and said that he did not require an entire week, which was so generously accorded him, for the consideration of his position in relation to tho House to determine the course which lie should pursue. He t -ank^d the House for the generous opportunity which tliej had afforded him for reflection. He was of the opinion that it wouid have been impossible for the <rt vernraent to maintain its influence «nd authority abroad, or for tlie i t.ouso to uphold that dignity and respect which it was bound to preserve, if some notice had not been taken of what bad occurred on Thursday last, when he felt that he had exceeded the bounds of right and order. He, therefore, wished to take that course wflich patriotism and common sense, as well as the respect which he felt for the House, dictated to withdraw such terms as might have transgressed Parliamentary usage, and to apologise to the f-peaker and the House for having used such language— (cheers). And this he would now do in no grudging or reluctant spirit, but frankly and sincerely ; and he hoped the Speaker and the House would accept this apology —(cheers). He trusted that it would not be considered inconsistent with that respect which he bore to the House, in the apology which he had just made, if he did not withdraw any statement as to fact . —(hear, hear). He now submitted himself to the pleasure of the House, and awaited its decision —(cheers). —Mr Disraeli: Mr Speaker, when I rose a week ago to make the motion that the hon. member should be reprimanded from the chair, I was unaware of any circumstances except those which were patent to every member present. I felt I vias only doing my duty faithfully towards you and to the House in making that motion. But I confess that had I been aware then of the circumstances with which the House was made acquainted afterwards—had the authorised statement been made which was subsequently made by the friends of the hon. member for Derby—l mean the statement made by the hon. member for Louth—or had I been acquainted with the circumstances to which he i*eferred, I should not have made the motion which I then made- (Jiear, hear). I should have felt that the case was one of a peculiar character and to be treated in a very different spirit. I should have looked upon it, as I L ok upon it now, as a case of overstrained sensibility—(hear, hear) —the case of a man carried away by his devotion to a cause which, however many of us may differ v as to the manner in which he proposes to deal with it, all must acknowledge to be great and important—(cheers). I will even say that had the hon gentleman not appeared mi his place to-day, I should have decJuJed to press for any distinct opinion of Hfcbe House, but I should have again advised tho House to postpone even for a longer period tho motion which, as an act of duty, I had offered to their consideration—(cheers). But I am, like all of us, I am sure, deeply gratified to know that we have not to consider an issue of that character—(cheers); that we have seen the hon. gentleman in his place restored, I am sure, from his tone and bearing, to that state of temper which becomes all who are members of this Assembly; and I think I am expressing the general feelings of both sides of the House when I say that we receive the expressions which he has offered to us as a complete and satisfactory apology for what was, no doubt, under ordinary circumstances, a grave indiscretion—(hear, Lear). These sentiments have been uttered, I am sure, by the hon. member for Derby in full sincerity, and I now move that the Order be discharged.— Alter a few words from Mr Bentinck and Mr > ewdegate, the motion was agreed to. —English Paper.