The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-09


day than ever before in Its history AS we'll
known members entered the House, they were
greeted with cheers; sometimes the cheers were
genuine and hearty, and sometimes given with
apparent mockery. John Bright, who entered
with feeble gait, was greeted with ringing
and approving cheers. The Parnellites gave
Parnell and Morley hearty reception. bat well
coined Goschen with derisive shouts. The Mar
'quis of Harrington drew a ringing volley Of
cheers from both sides Of the house. During
momentary lull in the confusion of cheers the
House was suddenly startled by 6 wild cry. It
came from the throats OF those who were first to
catch sight of Gladstone, gliding toward his seat
from behind the Speakers chair. The Irish
members sprang to their feet as one man, and
for several minutes the uproar of enthusiastic
applause continued. The full-throated Irish
cheer. that T. p OConnor had feared the inter-
Looping Tories might deprive of half its power,
was repeatsd till the whole building seemed to
reverberate with its triumphant peal. Mr..
Gladstone seated himself between Morley and
Sir William Vernon Harcourt He looked very
pale-paler even than usual. The lines on his
forehead appeared to have deepened since his
recent illness, but his step as he entered was
elastic. and his bearing indicated that he felt
full Of confidence in the success of his forth
coming speech It has transpired that Mr..
Gladstone was driving from Downing street to
the house, his carriage came very near being up
set by the pressure CT the crowd. The carriage
was escorted by six mounted policemen but
they were unable to prevent the mass of people
from pressing forward and stopping the progress
of the vehicle for some minutes. Gladstone was
both pleased and agitated by this extraordinary
enthusiasm Of the populace.
The rule which practically excludes ladies
from public sight in the House Of Commons, and
which, on an occasion like that Of to-day, mex
orably separate husband and wife who are for.
tunats enough to secure seats among the specta-
tors, compelled Mrs. Gladstone to hide herself
behind closing off the front of the ladies'
gallery. The venerable lady was the most In
terested of ali the spectators. There she met the
Princess Of Wales, whose royal blood could
not procure for her the privilege Of sitting be-
side her husband in the House, any more than
the Prime Minister'S wifes claim could gain for
her the boon of witnessing the noblest effort of
her husbands career. With the Princess of
Wales were the Princess Henry of Battenburg
princess Beatrice), the Duchess of St Albans,
the Countesses of Rosebery and Spencer, and
q host Of other ladies of noble blood.
In the House of Commons the members now
began to divide themselves into parties, with
view to their probable support Of opposition to
the coming speech They also INDUCED In con-
siderable bantering of each other Mr.. Peter
u,~l. l. r. d - IL
failed to secure seat on the floor, but who had
one in one Of the galleries, attempted to make
speech from his lofty position He was greeted
with vo.iey of yells which rendered his voice
inaudib.e End compelled him to relinquish his
purpose of giving the House some information.
1t was ascertained that no less that 450 of the
670 members had entered and secured their
seats by xAttiugs or personal occupation. De-
fore l2 o'clock. The wives, daughters and fe-
male relatives and friends Of these members
thronged the waiting rooms all the morning,
provided with buns, cakes, baskets and novels,
on which TO subsist and pass the time.
Soon after 8 o'clock the Parneite members
began to take possession of their seats. They
arranged themselves in serried ranks on the op-
position benches. in front of the place where Mr..
Gladstone was to speak. Mr.. Thomas Power
O'Connor Nationalist member for the Scotland
division Of Liverpool, explained the haste ex-
hibited by his party to secure seats by saying
that the Tories had organized plot to take pos
session of seats in such way as to make it inn
possible for the Parnellites to sit together. in
order to rob Mr.. Gladstone of the chorus of
cheers which the full-throated Irish members
ho 70 rix 81 ~, bodx
and the orator were to their liking. Mr. OCon-
nor said when his colleagues discovered this con-
spiracy they at once took steps to circumvent 1t
by reaching the scene in time to get the choice
of places. Mr.. O'Connor said he was satisfied
with the result, and added that the Irish chorus
would not only be full-throated, but unanimous.
The weather at this time suddenly changed
The clouds lowered and thunder was heard
Nevertheless, the mass Of people outside in
creased and became denser Catholic priests
were conspicuously numerous in the crowd, and
no less than thirty FIVE branches of the London
organization of the Irish National League were
represented by full deputations, whose identity
was easily established, even from distance. by
their green regalias. Political clubs beyond
numbering were also present to take part in the
popular demonstration. At A o'clock deputations
from thirty-two Liberal clubs alone had been
counted, in the throng.
Before going to the House of Commons. Mr.
Gladstone took drive through ST. James Park,
going away from the crowd by the west end of
Downing street. He desired to be awhile in the
fresh air before going to Parliament. He re-
turned to his residence, and in few moments
emerged on his way to the House of Commons.
The police had opened way for him to Parlia-
ment street, and down that across Bridge street
to the House. They had to work hard to make
this passage-way. and harder yet to keep it open.
Mr.. Gladstone went in an open carriage, and his
appearance was greeted with deefening cheers.
The enthusiasm Of the people on the way from
the door of his house to the Commons entrance
was spontaneous ard thrilling. 1t vented itself