Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-06-03
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A SECOND NIGHT IN The LOWER AS
SehBlY
OF the British Observation-Disclosures
Hall-A Great Debate on the Irish
Land Bjll-Eseiting Scenes
The Way Business IS
Transacted.
VARIOUS STAGES OF A BILL GOING
THROUGH PARLIAMENT.


speclsl Correspondence Of the Reg g'ster.
LONDON, May 20.
The student OF English history visits
London with the expectation OF finding
the ancient city in a state OF mild decay,
and he is at first somewhat surprised
upon realizing that the present is quite
as vital as ever the past was, and that
the metropolis is very much alive-in-
deed, Its greatness and growth are always
increasing. When, for example, you
enter Westminster Hsll-"the great
hall Of William Rufus"-you are be-
meath one OF the most glorious canopies
in the world-one which was built by
Richard H., in the fourteenth century,
whose tomb is in the Abbey Just across
the street. The old hall is now only a
yestibule to the Palace OF Westminster.
The Lords and Commons OF England, on
their way to the Houses OF Parliament,
pass every day over the spot on which
Charles I. was tried and condemned,
and on which occurred the trial OF War
rem Hastings. 1t is a mere thorough
fare-glorious though it be, alike in
structure and historic renown. The
Palace yard, near by, was the scene OF
the execution Of SIR Walter Raleigh, but
all that marks the spot IS rank oil caoS
and q shelter for cao-drivers. In
Bishopsgate street-where Shakespeare
once iiyed-you find the Crosley Hall; |;
the same 90 which in Shakespeare 'strage-
dy. the Duke Of Gloster requests the
retirement Of Lady Anne. IL Is a res
taurant now, and you may enjoy cap
ital chop and excellent beer in the veri'
table throne room oil Richard the Third.
Milton once lived in Golden Lane, and
Golden Lane was a sweet and quiet spot.
Ii is O slum now, dingy and dismal.
Books have been written to descrlbe
the Palace Of Westminster. 1t is aspien-
did structure-not 50 grand and impos-
ing, but more beautiful than the Capitol
at Washington. Ii covers eight acres OF
ground, on the bank Of the Thames; it
contains eleven quadraDges and tiye
hundred rooms; and when its inches Tor
statuary have all-been filled, 1t will con-
tain two hundred and twenty-slx
statues. The monument in st. Stephens
Hall, into which you pass from West
minister Hall, which has been inc orpor
ated into the Palace, indiCat, 8 very clear
ly what a sub art gallery this will one
day become. The statues are the images
of Selden, Hampden, Falkland, Clsren-
don, Somers, Walpole, Chatham, Mans
field, Burke, Fox, Pitt and Grattan.
There are statues also, in Westminster
Hall, commemorative OF the
Georges, Will am and Mary
and Anne. In that same
Hall. Richard III. wa3 deposed; Cromwe,l
installed Lord Protector OF Ersland;
John Fisher, Sir Thomas Moore, and
stat rd condemned.
Knowing that the proceedings OF the
House of Commons last night would
make an important page in the future
history of British politics, / passed
| through the old Hall Of Westminster on
| my way to attend the session. | was
/ fortunate enough to get on the flor OF
| the House, and procured seat on the
single bench allotted to visitors. But a
| few feet from me was the famous third
bench below the gang-way, on which
were seated the leaders Of the lri h
HJme Rule parly-Parnell, Justin Nc
CIrthy, t. OConner Sullivan, Day and
Shaw. TIE House and galleries were
we'll filled in anticipation OF a great de
bate, as Mr.. Gladstone had announced
that he would call for division on the
second reading Of the Irish Land bill.
IL was near midnight when the Hon.
Stewart Parnell took the Il or in opposi
ton to the bill. tie protested agsinst
the proposal to satisfy the Irish
tenant fnr all his sacrifices and
all lis labors on the land by so
miserable dole. Discussing the details
OF the bill, he objected TO the complicat
c millions under which the tenant
Was paced, to the costly litigation which
he would have to undertake, and TO the
entire absence OF any provision for deal
ing with arrears OF rent. Calm and sell
o SseSsed in the middle Of storm OF
cheers, mingled with a few derisive
sounds the leader of the Conservative
p,rtv, Sir Staff prd Northcote, arose to
his feet; his voice WAS low, his manner
attlllIaOiN COilcClCh. -
step and leaned upon the great table as
TRANQUILITY a. il he were about TO sit
down in the solitude of his study for
hsr,i mornings work with his pen
No,hirg cOuld be more considerate
than his opening language, nothing
more reasonable or cogent than his ear
lirr proposition. Presently something
o! a change came over the spirit OF his
u,terances lie hsi Gcen itritated.by
ironical cht ers Of oh, OH" and by
some aggressive "no, no" In mo-
mrnt the speaker WAS transformed, the
quiet and measured tones were ey-
changed for a vehement ajw OF rhetoric;
protest folio Sed protest against the bill,
each clothed in Language OF new vigor.
After he had concluded thlre arose from
the ministerial bench a middle aged
gentleman Of rather sleeky manner,
but who gradually marked himself
intoa state Of artificial energy. 1t was
Lord Harrington, who for several years
Was the leader OF the Liberal party AMI
now one of its chiefs, holding the high
position of Secretary OF State foe lndia.
AS member OF the Government he
MAS chosen to close tue debate, which
be did in severely business like man,
ner. For the last half hour there had
been busily moving in and out four or
five gentlemen, whose chief business is,
IL seems, 10 come in, look around, con-
suit y piece Of paper in their hands,
make memorandum, whisper a few
words INTO the ear OF an honorable
member, ara then disappear. These
are whips, three OF whom are officials,
while the other two act for the opposi-
ton. IL is the function OF the whip to
See that the members Of his party are
on the spot when a division is immi.
nent, aud that the debate is conducted
according to the lines laid down. The
mere machinery by which q Treasury
vhip hripus his man, 20 the House is