, 1875-08-08
PLlMS0LL.
The Shipping Bill in the English
: ,~' Parliament.
Remarkable Scene in the House Of
Commons.

"a villains within tho walls Of their own chambe
and By one OF themselves; the august Speaker
reprimand scouted and 3 fist shaken under th
| venerable nose. And thia in the year Of grac
1875, and in the Parliament Of England! It
| really quite wonder that the roof da not IA
In, or the walls shake, a. these dreadful event
| were taking place. .~ -:
For some time past it has bean seen to be be
coming more and more unlikely that the Mel
chant Shipping bill could bo passed this session
1t was suspected that the Government had neve
been veil disposed toward it. and that they hat
| only brought it in for the look Of the thing. it
| order to appeaSe an angry agitation. 1t could
Of course, have very we'll been passed it the Gov
ernmcut had made up its mind st the first t.
| give it fair chance. but this WAS not done. o.
the contrary. the bill was kept back in order K
| maze wav for less urgent business. and the con
sequence has been that the only part OF it which
| has ever been considered is the first section
which provides criminal penalties for diaordes],
sailors. while the provisions NTH regard to tht
seaworthlneas OF ships and the responsibilities
Of shirowuers have never had Al opportunity oi
being brought before the House,
Even though it waa foreseen and suspected
that the Government WAS not seflous in pushing
On the Shipping bill. llr. Disraeli's announce
ment on Thursday evening that it tad been de-
cided to drop it came upon every one with a
shock Of surprise and regret. Mr. Disrae1i said
he was very sorrv; but he did not eay it as il be
meant it very much, and the House was evident
iy lrriated, especially with the apparent noncha-
lance with which tho thing was done. Dir.
Geschen said word or two expressing regret at
the loss OF the bill, and thee it seemed as II no
moro would be said. at least just then, for the
bill was in the orders OF the day, and was to
come up later on. Just, however, as the Ser
geaut-at-Arms was on his way to put the mace
under tue table, in order that the House might
20 into committee On the Agricultural Holdings
bill. rough, hoarse, tremuous voice was heard
from the bar Mr. Speaker" AL ewes turned
to the bar aud there was seen Mr. Plimsoll, who
has led tho popular agitation about the ships,
moving the adjournment OF The House.
TERRIBLY IN EARNEST.
4 glance at his face was enough to show that
be was laburing under great excitement, Ordi-
uarily rather purpe-{aced man, he was asnF
pale. his lip quivered. and his voice struggled
With emotion as be said: ''sir. earnestly en-
treat this right honorable gentleman al the head
OF the Government NOT to consign some thou
sands OF living human beings to miserable
death" He spoke amid hush OF perfect still
ness and kind OF thrll went through the as
sembly, although it is usually one Of the coolest
and most phlegmatic in tho world But tho ef-
feet OF this solemn and pathetic appeal WAR ire
sistiple. As Alr. Plimsoll went On to speak OF
the t'ahip. OF murdsrous tendencies out
side OF tile House" and THAR confede,ates with.
IN, he became more and more excited; He
shouted, or rather shneked. rolled his head, and
f1u:1g his arms about in the Widest way. He
WAS also unconsciousfc shnHliag along the open
flour. IN the Contra OF the House. 30 that before
he was done he had got right into the middle OF
1t, and in front OF the Clerks table, on . raised
seat ut the end Of which the Speaker sits. He
referred to decision which has just been given
BY Scotch Jadge, strongly condemnns the
condition in which ships were sent to sea, and
gu ted the statement Of the Secretary Of
"LloydIe," that he did not know OF single
worn-out ship that had been broken up volun-
h, %ho ho
"pass from hand to hand until they are bought
up BY reckless spectators. and then they are
seut TO sea with precious human lives No fewer
than 2, ,654 out OF 5000 ships on Llosds reg1Btor
have gone off their class aud forfeited their po-
sition; aud what are the Consequences? Whv,
contiouaEly every winter hundreds aud hundreds
Of b1avs men arc sent to death. and their wives
made widows and their children fatherless. so
that few speculative scoundrels. in whose
hearts thera is neither the love OF God nor fear
OF man, may make uuhallo*ed galu-"
GREAT UpHoAR-
There had been some murmusB when he first
spoke OF " murdetous ship-owners," " but his sim
pie earuestness and intensity carried the au4
dience along With him. and there were lond and
significant cheers as ha uttered the last words.
II be had stopped here he would have had the
House altogether with him but, unfortunately,
he was growing continually more excited. as
could be gat hered from the increasing violence
aud gustiness OF his manner, and soon lost con-
ness OF where he was. When checked by the
Speaker, who told him he was going begond the
llmits OF q motion for adjournment, be gave mo-
tice of question to be put to the President Of
the Board OF Trade, whether Edward Bates, the
lives, in 1874. and two others abandoned
at sea, was the member for Plymouth
" And, SIR" he went on, II shall ask
some questions about other members,
too. am determined to unmask the
Williams who send these sailors to death
aud as he said SO lie shook his cleuched fst in
the air. There WAS great uproar at this and
as soon as he could make himself heard, tbs
Speaker, who renamed wonderfully quiet aud
collected SAID he hoped that tha word "yillain"
Saa not applied to any member OF the House
but hr. Pllmsol1 b!untv replied that it was, aud
That he could not and would not withdraw it.
Upon which the Speaker said in his blandess tone
That be must leave the matter to the Judgment
of The House. Then Mr. Disraeli-who was Al
most as white in the face as Sir. Plimsol1. and
looked rather nervous aud alarmed, like man |
rho fanciss be has Just seen q ghost-rose and
.implv moved, "a with deep pain, that the |
offending member should be rcprlmanded for |
his violent and offensive conduct. ''Such cou-
lucL" he said. - is unparalleled" "And so,"
able, sis the conduct of-the Government" and |
again he shook his fist Ut the Premier, at the |
Speaker. aud indeed all round. Then, on an
order from the Char, he hastily quilted the
House. ....
~ HIS PROTEST.
Before he left h9 gave ID protest, beginning, |
i. I protest. in the DAma Of God. Against any
'urtner delay in proceeding with the Shipping
,ill"; aud which, after declaring that the Gov
.rnment Was PLAYING into the hands Of :" mari
,me murderers inside the House and outside
t." goes On to lay "upon the head OF the Prime
Minister and his fellows the blood Of all the
men who shall perish next winter from prevent
.ble causes," sud to 'tdenounce against him
md against than the wrath OF God" Later In
be evening. Mt. Bates admitting the loss Of
hips imputed 70 him. laid it on Providence, aud
ome soft words we're spohsn by various men,
,ete to assnage the sensitive feelings Of the
hipping interest. All the same, everybody be-
tevcs that Mr.. Plimsoil, in the main. spoke only
he truth, aud shares his indignation.
On the whole. public opinion runs strongly in
II. Plimaoll's favor. HIS breach OF manners is
ondonod for the sake OF his passionate sympa-
by with 3 very miserable and i'll. used cass !; aud
hero is also very decided conviction, not in
ne party only, but in both. that the Govern
aent has behaved very badly. Meetings ara
eing got up In many Of the chief towns to sup
ort Mr. Plimsoll, and there ia every prospect
hat the autumn will be spent in An agitation On
he subject, which will be extremely damaging
0 the Ministry.
THE CHARGES coRnoBonATED-
The decision delivered bv Lord Clifford. one Of