Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-16
GLADsTONEs GREAT sPEECH
THE EXTRAORDINARY SCENES WHICH ACCOM-
pANTFp ITg pETIyFRy

THE EXTRAORDINARY SCENES WHICH ACCOM-
PANIED ITS DELIVERY.
Mr. Gladstone's speech on the Irish ques-
ton is generally pronounced one Of the great
est II not the greatest oratorical effort of his
lifo. Physically and mentally it was most
remarkable achievement for man who lacks
less than four years Of being fourscore. The
scenes attending it we're OF extraordinary in-
terest. It's delivery began about O'Clock in
the afternoon, and for II hours previous the
pressure for seats in the House had been be.
yond parallel. The speaker OF the House of
Commons was even deluged with requests for
permission to stand in the cellars under the
gratings Of the house, where the orator would
be audible. II WAS yet early in the morning
when all the seats ON the floor were taken.
The seat chosen in order to be retained must
be tcketed with the hat OF the member who
meant to occupy it, and the hat must be the
hat he was wearing that day, no substitution
being permitted. This rule retains the mem
bers within the limit agreeable to traverse
with bare heads. The present generation
never witnessed such "hattiug" scene AZ
occurred in the House Of Commons that
morning long before London was awake.
One Irish member was on hand and secured
his seat at $50 in the morning. and before
the night watchmen in the House were relieved
or the lights were eXtiDguished, a number OF
members Of Parliament, gentlemen possessed
of an assured admittance, began to arrive, to
make themselves doubly certain Of their
privileges by getting to their seats q number
OF hours before Mr.. Gladstone would reach
the House and retaining them during the
long interval. No less than 4j0 Of the go
members had entered and secured their seats
by batting" or personal occupation, before
IL o'clock.
The wives, daughters and female friends of
these members thronged the waiting rooms
all the morning. provided with buns, baskets
and novels on which to subsist and pass the
time. Such was the pressure for accommo-
dation that the authorities tolerated the revo-
lutionary innovation of placing two double
rows of chairs on the floor space in front of
the speakers desk. Every square foot Of
space in the galleries held q human being
The Prince OF Wales. his son, Prince Albert
Victor, the Duke Of Cambridge, Prince Chris.
tian and Minister Phelps occupied seats dur
ing the speech in the front row of the peers
gallery, Mr.. Phelps sitting beside Prince
Christian. large number Of members of
the House of Commons who were unable, be-
cause the chamber is not large enough 10 &C
commodate the whole membership, to obtain
places on the floor, helped to jam the CALLER
! les. A liberal member who had failed to Sc
cure a seat on the floor, but had one in one
Of the galleries, attempted to make a speech
from his lofty position. He was greeted with
a volley of yells, which compelled him to re
| linquish his purpose. The crowd outside the
gates was enormous, covering all the space
down to Westminster bridge and extending
well up Parliament street toward Whitehall.
A perfect jam Of people filed Downing
street where Mr.. Gladstone's official residence
is situated, waiting for the premier to make
his appearance on his departure for the House
of Commons. The mounted police with
much difficulty opened a way for him to the
| House. Mr.. Gladstone went in an open car
riaPe and his appearance was greeted with deaf
ening cheers. The enthusiasm of the people all
the way from the door OF his house to the com
mon entrance was spontaneous and thrilling.
Ii vented itself at the beginning OF the jour
ney in a roar Of applause, hearty and great
enough TO make most statesmen dizzy, and
when the whole immense multitude caught
the signal one tremendous long sustained
cheer was sent up, the like Of which was new
er before heard in London and which was
| plainly audible in the House. The cheering
continued until long after Mr.. Gladstone had
entered the parliament buildings.
Within the buildings the prime ministers
reception, though less demonstratiye, was
| equally enthusiasts. For the most part his
argument was heard in silence but its close
was followed by burst Of enthusiastic
cheers, which we're sustained for several min
utes. The speech was three hours and 2j
| minutes in duration aud ended at o'clock.