The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-02
THE BRITISH CRISIS.
GLADSTONE ESCAPES CENsURE BY 4
NARROW MAJORITY.
Report That the Grand Old Man" + ION
the Point OF Resigning Gortion's
Boast-Foreign Items
and Notes.

LONDON, March 2 The debate in the house
of commons on the vote of censure on the
government proposed. by Sir Stafford North
cote culminate1 Friday night in scenes Of
the greatest excitement The chamber was
packed with members who could hardly find
seat Each side had used its utmost en-
deavors to bring ont its full force, and the
extraordinary number Of 800 members
out of full list of $50 passed be-
tween the tellers when the vote was
called, which saved the Gladstone ministry
by a mere shave. The atmosphere was
electric The Conservatives could not re-
strain their enthusiasm. They felt sure that
the power they had lost in April, 1889, was
coming back to them again. They acted
like boys IN their widest mood On the
government side the temper was decidedly
ugly. Mr.. Gladstone sat with his hat over
his eyes on the first treasury bench as
the house filed up The debate dragged.
Little attention was paid TO the
speeches, although cheers were frequent
The cries for a division arose as each speaker
took his seat The government side was
bcst championed by the marquis of Harting-
ton, secretary for war. He said in conclu-
sion The government will never abandon
the Soudan until all the pledges it made to
the country before the opening of the cam
paign shall be fulfilled. No one can be more
convinced than are the members Of her
majesty's government that England cannot
afford to let her Mohammedan subjects see
her retreat.
a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES loud eonserva-
tive cheers.
Lord Harrington resuming calmly)-Re
treat before an outbreak of fanaticism! II
only for the sake of moral effect on India,
the military expedition must continue until
Khartoum is retakan ana Fl Mahii brought
to terms.
Great cheers arose from the Liberal
benches as the marquis sat down
and put on his hat. Under
the greatest excitement the tellerS were ap-
pointed for the vote, and the members
pas ell out into the lobby cheering, chatting
and shouting, Mr. Gladstone walking with
bent head and knitted browS. He was very
pale As the members passed in, the quickest
ca!cuiators could Dot tell which side was
bound TO win Sir Stafford NorthcOte was
very nervous At lat, when the house was
raaSsembled and the tally was complete,
there WAS painful, hreatheSs silence, Mr.
Gladstone shifting uneasily In his seat.
Speaker Peel then announced the vote. II
was 2S5 votes lii favor Of censure and So2
votes agailsa it-a victory for Gladstone by
II votes Small rs it was, it was made TO g.
far The yell that went no from the Liberal
side has not been equaled in over fifty years
VIXEN the first reform bill passed It's second
reading.
When the motion was put the PamelhteS
dramatically baftlei curiosity by remaining
seated until the house was cleared, and then
rose in a body and went with the Conserva-
tiyes. Still the result was not known until
the clerk advanced to the table and read the
figures The result was received with vocif-
erous cheers and counter cheers.
The cabinet met at ; o'clock, Saturday
afternoon, at the prime ministers official
residence in Downing street Earl Spencer,
lord lieutenant Of ireland, in response t. a
summons from Mr.. Gladstone, ar
rived from Dublin in the morning, and
attended the cabinet council in order t.
lend scch assistance and advice as lay in his
power in the present trying circumstances.
The outcome of this ministerial conference is
entirely uncertain Many weil-infOrmei
| persons, whUso sources Of Information ara al
most beyond doubt assert that crisis has
| been reached and that Mr. Glaistone's min.
istiy will tender their designations within
! twsnt y-four hour.
LATER The 90 binet council which CON
vened at o'clock remained in session until
| $50 in the evening. Att p. m. the decisions
arrived at by the ministers as 10 their posi-
ton in view of Friday nights vote, had
| not transpiTssl