The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-01
The ''Previous Question" in the House
Of Commons.

|
ton into the House of Commons of the
s'cloture,n or what is known by parlia.
mentarians in this country as the s.pre-
vlous question: should be so stoutly re-
sisted, when the Importance of the inno-
vation is historically and practically con-
sidered. Looking at the subject in the
light OF the present and its necessities,
the wonder is that some method of closing
a debate within reasonable period
should not have been resorted to before
this late day; but, when we look back
and remember how few debaters there
were inthe days when MIR. Pitt and Mr..
| Fox led in the discussion of important
questions, how conservative the English
people are, and how opposed they are to
a new departure from the old methods
OF procedure, we easily realize that the
| opposition to Mr.. Gladstone's S new rule il
| not altogether unna tural 2i'tt' }.isiia
T Prior to the adoption of the Reform
bill in 1882, the House of Commons was
a large body only in theory, for while
the number on the clerk 8 list was large.
the number of absentees was also always
very large, the speaking was restricted
to limited number of orators; and the
debates on the most important questions
usually terminated by the natural pro-
cess of exhaustion in a few hours, so
that the main question came without
forcing. '' s'a1
But the Reform bill in 1882 not only
added many more members to the Com
mons, but it threw into it many conspic-
nous citizens who belonged to the mid
die classes, like Mr. John Bright, men
fitted by education, ability and training,
to properly represent the ideas and de-
fend the principles which had brought
them prominently to the notice of the
public. Instead of the leading parts be-
ingall taken by dozen of bright and
distinguished leaders, as was the case in
the days of Fox and Pitt, there was; a
crowd OF new speakers, representing un-
easy constituencies, who insisted on being
heard. As a natural consequence the
debates became more and more protract-,
ed and wearisome, the party contests be-
came more bitter and prolonged as the
House membership resolved itself into
cliques and factions, which resisted OBJ
noxious measures by what is now called
..flibnstering'' in this country word
that has come into general use since
Jefferson's Manual was written. liis'
+ OF late years these obstructionists have
become so numerous and so persistent
and SO determined to delay certain Gov.
eminent measures that were obnoxiio,,,s'
to them, that it became manifest some
decisive measures must be adopted. or
all legislation would be defeated nv ma
chronic deadlock. No matter whether
the s.lilibusterinu'' was resorted tn bv
the Tories, Radicals or irish members 81
all Of them in leacue araipst ltba Minis
try. the effect-was the same and there
was no way of nuttinr an and to tolL;ra. /
against time. The instanca Of = The Ir;s5
members keepinp the House in session
'forty-two continuous hours. as was the
case on one occasion recently. is an en-
ample of the power of a factions minor
ity. under the existing rnles of ant;ca
and also serves to show the necess;ty' - of
curbinp IT.
Irndor tlosa s,alas,,
natnrallu [ s,,nrosa M tha. tbs ~ oue Moulu
adont;a pposo .n"s - 1lie hscesslCy .oi
Hoisa e CIV, .na1 = PIuoeuule ~ tle
that thor, ,,-o,lIJ - h''. ~ % appa,cl'
to # asneo;allu % u;th - DtS Nv n.'le opposl.lon
in Parl;ament wh;oh hie = sue maJoliss parry
~ n Laa,; :, una G VIII 'lle
30 o,ta,.n ~ ,,,n.,t Aocphs Ino wneeis, oi
5oosed nar Jona - ,t,,se iGn, = nu. sns pro
ed =, l1S Nv r. IA - oel.ous1y oo5ecl-
in pari;am9nt o and % ~. nsef.aise 81 q elelnsnt
I;kas chanmas 90 , al o L;n1 ~, S Mnicn s uis-
~ ,od5aa ~ 81 - nS' aus auu Milcn IS
..hettar r. hear tba ;IIs m 1 Nc .Iua has onaa =
f1y to others that we know NOT IF, -
(2) The application of the nrevious onas-
ton to cut off debate looks ~ many
people. even in this country. az a dav;c.
to stifie the freedom Of sneech With
which mankind seems to be becomino
more and more enamored. Even the
majority has a deem interest in the
change. because it NAV he IN tbe minor
ity next year, or next month. and then
the bit placed in its own mouth bys
an overbearing majority NAV be as ao-
(o) Inc innovation Is re-
sis,eu ON tne ground that 1t may lead, to
sun sun more serious ana lar-reachlng re-
J sul.s. An amplsious ana reckless Minis
D. y packeu py resoIute ana courage