The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-30 00:00:00

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.

We have this week had a. pitched battle in
the legislative arena between Ministerialists
and their opponents. The party contest,
fierce as it was, has had no move serious
effect than that of clearing away a contro-
versial impediment tothe work of the House.
Mr. Morley's motion, impugning the Govern-
ment Irish policy as a whole, has not num-
erically damaged the position of the dominant
party, nor has it improved the status of the
Gladstonians and the Nationalists. That the
discussion of a vote of censure would have at
once affected party strength scarcely seems
to have boon supposed by those who brought
it forward, for we find the member for New-
castle, in opening the debate, distinctly
stating that his conviction that the House
would not agree to his motion, and the amount
of Government majority was pretty accur-
ately forecasted by adherents of either side.
Yet the motion could only have been resolved
upon by the attacking side in the hope of
making capital in a fighting sense, and those
not inagreement with Ministers are profess-
ing to look to the future for the reward of
their latest strategic effort. Two years hence
chey hope to gain standing and strength in
.rn appeal to the country, pointing to their
present action. Viewed from an entirely
.mptejudiced standpoint it must he admitted
:-hat, whatever success may be in store for
-fr. Gladstone and those who are acting
.-ith him, they have just now been cleverly
It-manceuvred by the Conservative and
beral Ulionist alliance. A chance of
..maging the Government was discerned in
me points of Irish administration, the dis-
• rnment tlutt chance was somewhat im-

..udently, strategically speaking, immedi-
Ay announced, and at the sane time the
:icier making the announcement gave notice
. lat he would be able to formulate his attack
Ministers at a given date, and that Mr.
;.:ladstono would then ask for faciLties for
dscussing the whole matter. All this no
lonbt in the expectation that time would
amit of working out a big party rally and
.rganisatioo to the end of making the on-
aught as effective as possible. But Minis-
' irs saw thlt the strength of their position
' ty in forcing on the fight without delay,
. id the following Monday was at once al-
tted to Mr. Morley for his threatened
.otion. It was made, but its makers found
..:eraselves obliged to admit the hopelessness
their advance; and consequently, in con-
ia,nce with the
_foregone conclusion, the

)vernment scored a victory. We are not,
this connection, pronouncing either for or
linst Ministers or Opposition as regards
„freueral principle involved, but simply
, • Acing back with an independent eye on the
: .3.y, and considering its probable result, es-
.cially as regards the legislative business of
a remainder of the Session.
__ It may be

tat Mr. John Dillon's case will now cease
be a bone of contention in the House of
)mmong, and he be permitted to quietly
'y the penalty of the law for his deliberate
ts, and that thereby Parliament will not
troubled. Other Members have had to
- .us suffer for their zeal, when Mr. Gladstone

•Ls been in power as well as now that Lord
• Llisbury is Prime Minister. Mr. Morley's
'neral condemnation of the Government
)licy in Ireland was meant as much as
15-thing to stand as a protest against the
aprisonment of the member for East Mayo,
ad as such it was largely interpreted by all
spertkers. A majority of 93 in a full
• Louse have by their votes registered the
pillion that the Government machinery for
•!•)curing order in Ireland has done no in-
itice in putting Mr. John Dillon in durance
le and dressing him in the felon's garb;
ve practically endorsed the judical opinion
_ _

_proved by Ministers that 1e who freaks
statut of authority must suffer the sta-
ttory punishment, no matter what his
•.-.ation. That question may be considered
.uswered, therefore, once for all, while Par-
.:ament remains constitnt«l am at present ;
nd the way is in consequence now clear for
le work of Parliament proper. Government
now concentrating their strength upon
le accomplishment of as much legislative
'oour as possible, and bent on absorbing all
• he available time of members, during the
'3mainder of the session. rho giving up of
Vednesdays, as well as the rest of the work-
:lg hours of the House of Commons, to the
.orwa.rding of the measures taken in hand
iiy Ministers, should have the effect of
enabling Parliament to get the Local Gov.
Tnment Bill out of hand in time to obviate
tlie necessity for an autumn sesFion. It is
extensive and complicated scheme, and
'n some of its original features encounterA
.on-oiderable opposition from interested
.)arties, with the result that objectionable
lanses had to be dropped in order that the
'lain principle of the bill should be permitted
o make progress. As the measure is, en
he whole, acceptable to members of the
)ppositiou, as well as followers of the Gov-
-,)rnment, it ought not to meet with much

)bstruction ; but should go forward through
..he various stages with facility, obtaining
.mprovement in detail of construction from
he discussions of which it will be the sub-
set. If all parties will forget their differ-
_ _

laces on other points, and lay their heads
.ogether for the time being in a spirit of
autual desire to make the new Local Gov-
,rnment scheme as complete as possible at
he moment of its adoption as the law of the
• ind, the country will be the gainer. And
vhy shonld we not have this much-to-be-
c.sired combination tor the good of the
.:ation? A member is chosen because he has
majority of votes in his constituency ; it
• lay be, nay often is, a very narrow ma-
)rity. He is returned by the suffrages of
lose, say, of Mr. Gladstone's way of
thinking. But the narrow majority by
.-hich he has won at the poll makes him the
,iember for his borough or division, not the
•prez,entat ive or tick gate of the Glad stedems
one who ballott.d in his -behalf. Just t'w
tite with the wlio wins,
Unionis:. who heads the poll, or th,. ,
'arneliite scores a- success. Each and
,1 m!lotthl nnnember that they are Members
if Parliament first, and members of a party
.:terwards. Their cardinal ditty is the ser-
.. ice of the tate, the representation ( their
• Ansi itnency ; their obligation to ti. pat-
•l:.:;nfn‘,::, of this or that poli•ical lea&
-.uidensecondnry cow.iilertAiou.
11111(1; I)tf,l3l' should we get on with onr
-gislativebl:siness if this golden rule were
4 mucuobtstoycdabitki soundueta is admitted?