The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-12
THE RAGE OF PLIMSOLL.
VIVID PICTURE OF THE SCENE

VIVID PICTURE OF THE SCENE.
PLIMsoLL's APPEARANCE-HIs INTENSITY
AND ITS EFFECT-CoOLING HIN oFF-A
SCOTCH DRCIsIoN-A. SEVERE BLOW FOR
DISRAELI.
OF the accounts just received from Eng
land of the scene which Plimsoll produced
in parliament, the following from the New
York Times is perhaps the most striking:
Even though il was foreseen and suspected
that the government was not serious In
pushing on the shipping bill, Mr..
Disraelis announcement on Thurs
day evening that it had been
decided to drop it came upon everyone
with shock of surprise and regret Mr..
not say il as ii he meant it very much, and
the House was evidently irritated, especially
with the apparent nonchalance with which
the thing was done. Mr.. Goschen said
word or two expressing regret at the loss of
the bill, and then it seemed as il no more
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
sergeant al arms was on his wav TO put
the mace under the table, in order that the
House might go into committee on
the Agricultural Holdings bill. a rough,
hoarse, tremulous voice was heard from
the bar-"Mr. Speaker" All eyes turned
to the bar, and there was seen Mr..
Plimsoll, who has led the popular agitation
about the ships, moving the adjournment of
the House. A glance at bis face was enough
to show that he was laboring under great
excitement. Ordinarily a rather purple
laced man. be was sshy pale, his lips
quivered, and his voice struggled with emo
ton as he said: "Sir. earnestly entreat the
right honorable gentleman at the head of
government not TO consign some thor sands
of living human beings to miserable
Ia mid Of
stiffness, and
KIND OF THRILL
went through the assem- bly, although il is usu-
ally one of the coolest and most phlegmatic
in the world. But the effect of this solemn
and pathetic appeal was Irresistible. As Mr..
Plimsoll went on 10 speak of the ''ship-
owners OF murderous tendencies outside of
the House," and their confederates within
he became more and more excited. He
shouted, or rather shrieked, rolled his head,
and flung his arms about in the widest wav.
He was also unconsciously shutting along the
open hoor, in the centre OF the house, so that.
before he was done, he had got right into
the middle of it, and in front OF the clerks
table, on raised seat at the end of which
the speak, sits. He referred to decision
which has just been given by a Scotch
judge. strongly condemning the condition
In which ships were sent to sea, and quoted
| the statement OF the secretary of "L,ovd's"
that he did not know OF a single worn out
ship that had been broken up voluntarily
| by the owners. ''ShiDs, +" be went on, ''pass
from hand to hand until they are bought
up by reckless Spectators, ana then
they are sent to sea with precious human
lives. No fewer than 1854 out of 5000 ships
on Lloyd's register have gone of their class
and forfeited their position, and what are
the consequences? Why, continually, every
winter hundreds and nund reds OF brave
70 efr
widows and their children tstherless, so that
few speculative scoundrels, in whose
hearts there is neither the love of God nor
Fear "a IIaii, nay lhak5 uuhallowed gains"
There bad been
SOME MURMURs
when he first spoke of ''murderous ship
owners but his simple earnestress and in
| tensity carried the audience along with
him, and there were loud and significant
cheers as he uttered these last words. II he
ne had stopped here he would have had the
House altogether with him, but, unfortu
nately, he was growing continually more
excited, as could be gathered from
the increasing violence and gustiness
| OF his manner, and soon lost
control over himself. and probably
even consciousness of where he was.
When checked by the speaker, who told
him he was going beyond the limits of mo-
ton for adjournment, he gave notice of a
question to be put to the president of the
| Board of Trade whether Edward Bates, the
owner of four vessels lost with 81 lives, in
1874, and two others abandoned at
sea, was the member for Plymouth?
| "And, sir" he went on, ~ shall ask
some questions about other mem bers,
too. i am determined to uDmask the
villains who send these sailors TO death;"
and as he said so, he shook his clenched
fist in the air. There was great upIoar at
this, and as soon as he could make himself
beard, the Speaker, who remained wonder
| fully quiet and collected, said he hoped that
the word villain" was not applied to any
member of the House; but Mr.. Plimsoll
bluntly replied that it was, and that he
could not and would not withdraw it. Upon
which the Speaker said, in his blsndest tone,
that he must leave the matter to the judg-
| ment of the House. Then Mr.. Disraeli-who
was almost as
/ WHITE IN THE FACE
as Mr.. Plimsoll, and looked rather nervous
and alarmed, like a man who fancies he has
just seen q ghost-rose and simply moved,
as with deep pain. that the offending MEM
Der should be reprimanded tor his violent
and offensive conduct. " Such conduct" he
said, =" is unparalleled" And so" retorted
Mr.. Plimsoll, from the other side OF
the table, " is the conduct of the gov
ernment," and again he shook mis-
fist at the premier, at the speaker,
and indeed all around. Then, on an
order from the chair he hastily quilted the
House. In the lobby his voice was heard
for some time afterwards, bawling out
| Thousands Will die for thisr' Thousands
will die for this!" Several friends went out
with him, and tried to reason with him and
induce him to be calm. But he declared he
would never 1--WE in, and always returned to
the refrain, Thousands Will die for this"