New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-19
BRITISH TOPICS.
-, THE ENGLISH CAPITAL.


,,,rprcAN TOURISTS.
,o,, rus REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE IKibuNh'
TnxnoN July 25.-Lord Wolverton's death VIII 10
extent affect the fortunes or, at any rate, the
sisepline of the Liberal party in the House OF COM
mons He was the father Of the Liberal Wmp MI
George Glyn, and the son now goes to tue opper
House and can no longer be whip of what is called
the Lower. The name of this functonary is scarcey
dniRed and the popular notion of his duties is not
very dirnified either. All Englishman of average
intelligence would probably describe him as doing
for his party what whipper-n of f0x-hounds does
for the mack But one function is nearly as unknown
ms the other in America and the illustration VIII
not help lis much. Mr.. Gyms proper title was rat
renage Secretary to the Treasury aud In colunc-
ton with Mr. Adam one of the Junior Lords of the
Treasury he was responsible for seeing that things
went right in the House. There are
two whips to each party, and II set
cut TO describe their varied duties should have to
60 into a multitude of details and end by leaving
the reader with very confused notion OF them.
know of no officer in American politics who performs
the same sort of functions In part, they grow out
of the peculiar constitution and habits Of the House
of Commons and the enormous mass and variety OF
its legislative business. No member pretends to
keep the run Of it, the whip does it for him. The In
dividual member knows that if an important debate
OF division is to occur he will be to receive an
urgent note-printed OF NATURALIZATION the
whip of his own party, telling him what 1t Is all
about and beseeching him to be at the House at the
time indicated. The whip must have the most ac-
curate and minute knowledge both Of the questions
before the House. and of the opinions of each men,
Der who sits on his side of the House. There is so
much ndependence-happily for the country
among members of the Liberal party that the mere
fact Of man calling himself Liberal does not make
il certain that he can be relied on to vote as the
party leaders wish in every case. He may take
line of his own, may have awkward amendments to
propose, or may vote squarely with the Opposition
Instances occur daily, but need mention only the
most famous of all, the cabal of 1866, which
Mr. Bright has handed down to immortality as the
Cave of Adu1am.
Now it obviously would not do for whip to be
taking pains to secure the attendance of member
who was likely to vote wrong or make trouble in
any wav He might as well send for the other side;
hence the mnuteness of the knowledge of individual
opinions caprices. eccentrcites, hobbies, and all
the rest. necessary to man in Mr.. Glyn's place.
Nor is his duty done when he has dispatched such
letter Not everybody is obedient to that KIND OF
missive and if the division goes against him, 1t
would be a poor excuse for whip that he had sent
word to lot of men who wouldn't come. Such case
occurred the other day on Mr.. Richards motion Tor
International Arbitration, on which the Government
was beaten, as then wrote, because members pre-
ferred Mrs Holford's reception and the Duchess of
Buccleuchs ball to attending in their places at the
House. The whip must know all about mans
usual haunts, which of his clubs he frequents at
particular hours, and where he can be got at
when wanted suddenly. Possibly division was
not expected before midnight, and men who had
engagements to dinner had got leave to be away till
1850 But for some reason the debate breaks down
or threatens to break down. The whip must be
4hof frofc nd bp
not stave off the catastrophe by putting up men to
speak against time there is nothing for it but to lay
violent hands on the hundred OF two members who
are dispersed over London. Many is the dinner
marty which gets broken into by the sudden arrival
OF a messenger from Mr.. Glyn in cab, announcing
an unexpected emergency, and insisting peremptor-
NV on the victims leaving dinner and friends at
once. The messengers orders are to bring his man
back with him. and very likely he goes grumbling
and hungry down to the House only to find he'll has
been summoned on false alarm. Excellent whip
as Mr.. Glyn was in many respects, he had reputa-
ton for crying wolf little too often. Men thought
him nervous and sometimes a little fussy. / have
frequently heard member say he should use his
own Judgment if il was Glyn who sent but if Adam
wanted him he knew the matter was serious, and
went at once.
With an organization of this sort the result of a
division on a great question may, the ingenious
believer in ideas begins to perceive, depend more
On the vigilance energy and tact of the whips than
on the principles involved. The relation of man
performing such duties to the chief of his party
must be singularly close and confidential Indeed
might almost say that the relation Of his chief to
the whip ought to be more confidential than it is.
Mr. Glyn sometimes knew a great deal more about
what went on than Mr. Gladstone did. He by no
means felt himself always bound TO impart his
knowledge to the Prime Minister. In many cases it
Is lust as well he should not Mr. Brand the present
Speaker of the House, Mr.. Gyms predecessor,
and served under Lord Palmerston among other
Liberal and Wing Premiers. There is story of
Lord Palmerston being asked before committee
respecting the history of bill passed by his Gov
eminent. and replying that he could not tell, but
doubt Brand could-"f he would" The chances
are he would not, Mr. Brand is looked back to as
the King of the whips. Men relied on his judgment
rs well as his energy, and on his good faith also
He knew the House of Commons as no other
man has known it, aud was such terms with men
of great position-county members OF old family,
for instance probably the proudest in the
world-as no city man like Mr.. Glyn could quite
attain Mr. Glyn, like his father, is a banker, and
there are people who do not like beng tapped the
shoulder by man who has sat behind counter.
Mr.. Gladstone however is said to have been well
satisfied with Mr.. Gyms work. and the way in which
IT has been done. OF all Prime Ministers, he is per-
maps the one who has stood most in need personally
OF agood whip. Among his great qualities, knowl-
edge OF men and quick perception of the feeling of
The House has never been reckoued. He is capable
of F1sking close division by going on talking when
hhe hOuse was long since ready TO vote and Mr..
Olyn may nave been seen from time to time pulling
respectfully at his chiefs tails in the vain hope