New-York tribune., 1884-03-22
THE NEW SPEAKER.
WITH SOME CURIOUS INCIDENTS OF HIS
ELECTION.

the resignation Of the Chair by Sir Henry Brand
and that she gives leave TO this House to proceed 10
the election Of new Speaker
Such arc tho words in which the Prime Minister
nf England Yesterday, February 90, 1ssl sienlhed
10 the House of Commons that they were at liberty
10 make chclce of presiding officer There Is
piquaucy in this antique flavor the days OF ludors
aud Suarts when the control of the Sovereign over
the Legislature was in many points substantial and
direct The words now foTn, hut
4 form which has historical interest and
from which nothing would induce man OF Mr
Cladstone's temperament to depart. In this, as III
other matters the form outlIves the fact IL is con-
ceivahle but only Just conceivable, that the Queen
might iuterpose objection TO the very possible
Speaker whom the House might prefer. Ii she DID,
il would net be announced publicly. Tho matter
would be arranged between herself and the Prime
Minister; as in the case of Cabinet appointments.
where she still retains and reasonably exercises,
form of objection We are far from the days when the
House of Commons accepted Speaker at the dicta-
tion of the Crown but il would be interesting TO
know what woud happen if Her Majesty withheld
the leave she granted yesterday, and II the House
nevertheless proceeded to an election
Other points i'll yesterdays proceedings viii he
fOnnd not less quaint When clock came nStead
of the usual announcement of" Mr.. Speaker, thc
cry of Mace was heard from the officers. Tie Ser
lP9Qt- t-ArmS appeared t'fNOs
The House is not capable of constituting itself com
pletelv without Speaker. Captain Gossett placed
the awful symbol not on. but under the table The
Clerk of the House. Sir Erskne May, took his usual
seat There were no prayers. Every seat was filled.
The Clerk rose and silently pointed at Mr.. Gladstone
and il was in answer 10 this mute appeal that the
Prime Minister uttered the words have quoted at
the beginning of this letter. There were few
cheers rs he took his seat and the Clerk then pointed
still opening not his mouth, to Mr.. Whltbread,
who had been selected 10 propose Mr..
Arthur Peel TO he Speaker. Mr.. Whtbread. though
NOT an old mau is one of the NostOTs of the House.
Born in $50, he was elected for Bedford in 1852,
and has ever since sat for that constituency. On
matters of precedence and procedure there Is no
authority higher than Mr.. Whitbread's. and be
would have been chosen Speaker 10y general con-
sent had his health permitted him TO serve. lie
spoke for not more than ten minutes and wholly
avoided technicalites but his speech is a whole
manual of conduct for the Chair One striking
massage quote. Referring 10 Nh GladStone's re-
mark Yesterday that the Office has no counterpart
elsewhere, Mr.. Whitbread continued:
If the ofice is singular in its duties so il is in
the sources from which its authority Is derived.
No resolutions inscribed on OuT journals no stand
iuC orders no powers by statute, cOnld for one
moment avail the Speaker who had lost the conf
dence of this House. Hear, hear HlS whole
authority is based upon that confidence II Is a
confidence which the greatest and fIeest assembly
in the world has delighted to Tepose IN the speaker
And as ii has been in the past so | doubt not 1t
will be i'm the future and If, some think, troub-
Ions times are in store for in Parliament feel
confident that the great body Of the House will re-
new from day to day their confidence IN the
Speaker and that the measure OF that commence
will only be the need that shall arise.
The whole speech was in this tone Of dignity and
wisdom skilfully set to catch the sympathes and
suffrages Of the whole House. He well said Of Mr.
Peel that though he had not been eager 10 thrust
himself upon the attention of the House those who
knew him best were those who had tho strongest
confidence in his success. And be concluded with
the words Il beg 10 move that Mr.. Arthur Peel
do take the Chair of this House Speaker" Mr.
Rathbone n Liverpool merchant, seconded the
motion In a speech still briefer thar Mr. Whit
breads. Then Mr.. Arthur Peel rose. Probably no
man in circumstances delicate ever made better
speech: modest firm, in parts almost eloquent, free
from every effort at display, penetrated with
sense of the responsibility about TO he laid on him,
inspired throughout hy right feeling and high
principle. Nothing could have been III finer taste
than his declaration that he under no illusions
as to the presentation of his name while SO many
on both sides of the House were better fitted for
the place.
know very we'll sir, how much | am indebted
above all things-it would he unnatural IN me II |
did not avow il in the face of TINS House OF Com
mons-for the favor which the House has thus far
shown me- TO the fact that am the son OF states
man lcheers] whose history, AID whose lahoTs are
identified with the story and the debates OF MS
House hear, hear whose pubic services are IN
deiby written in the records of ms Gonntry near
bearl and whose name is warmly cherished III a
multitude of British homes.
In terms not less graceful lie referred to the ex-
ample of his predecessor, Sir Henry Brand, as one
which he could ouy hope to initiate by help of the
House itself lie appealed to that aid without
which he would be powerless indeed, without
which the best Speaker who ever sat in that Chair
would be bereft IF all power and authority mean
the moral support. assistance and cooperation OF
this House. lie pledged himself to but one thing,
perfect importantly and Le sat down "humbly sub
mitting himself to and placing himself IL the hands
and at the disposal of this House. This House
indicated its sense of the admirable
quality of his speech by cordial cheers
frum the Conservative not less than
from the Liberal benches. Then Nj Whitbread,
who sat behind the lower corner of the Front
Bench with Mr.. Arthur Peel beside him, took the
new Speaker by the hand and led bin down to the
open floor, Mr.. Rathbone following. II s to be
noted that though motion had been duly made
and seconded, no motion was put TO the House II
WAS known there was 20 be 10 opposition. The
Tories had considered the question of putting a
candidate in nonlin alton, aud had decided in full
marty eaucus at the Carlton Club that nothing was
to be gained by demonstration doomed in advance
not only 10 defeat but 20 discredit. II there had
been an opposing candidate, division must some
how have been taken, bat It seem. TO he considered
that the Clerk Of the House sonly competent 20 pat
amotion 10 the House in peculiar and pressing
emergencies. 80 engrosing is the authority of the
speakcr--and it may be added 90 mpersonal is it
that Sir Henry Brand on Tuesday himself put 10
the House the resolution of thanks for his service,
and the resolution for an address to the Crown IN
his own behalf
standing on the steps OF tho Chair Mr.. Arthur
Peel then--after ar unmanrerly interruption by
Mr. F. ii. ODonnell had been represSed by the
Housc-acknow W ged the great honor done him
III calling him the Chair promised 10 do his best;