New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-26
LIFE IN LONDON.
WESTMINSTER WITHOUT THE IRISH MEN,
BEERS.
DEADLY DULNEss THE FRONT OPPOSITION
BENCH-FAMOUS CORNER MEN
"A POSTPONED FIGHT.

speech explanatory of the Home Rule bill of 1885
will forget the shout of exultant JOY with which
| lis proposal to shut out Irish Members from
Westminster was received Up to that point, and
| after the House was critical, and in the main
dubious. But at this prospect of deliverancc from
the tyranny of the Irish Members all were united.
| Those were the days when Mr.. Parnell was at the
| height of his power as. indeed, was testified by
the fact that Mr. Gladstone stood at the table en-
| pounding a Home Rule bill, the thoroughness OK
| which would have astonished Mr.. Butt. Every
| thing favored the Irish Members. They were
| Numerous united, disciplined, and above all
| financially strong Those were the days in which
| Mr. Biggar sat in the countlng-house counting OUT
the money that flowed in abundantly from across
the seas drawing upon it in checks as small as ne
could possibly make them for the weekly sustenta-
ton Of Mr. Parnelrs faithful henchmen Bound
by this and other ties the Parnellites dominated
the House. and at the mere prospect OF gettlnS rd
of them, burst of sunlight seemed to MOOD Inc
Chamber. How it happened that this very plank
of Mr.. Gladstones platform became the one over
which he tripped, and which has since been cut
out. is matter Of history and forms Significant
commentary on the misleading influence of first
impressions.
1t has. however. come TO pass that apart from
LEGISLATION. without its initiative assistance the
vision which flashed drought the House of CON-
mons on that spring evening. five years ago, mas
been realized Just now the House of Commons Is
practically relieved from the presence and COM
panionship of its eighty-six colleagues from Ire
land The benches below the Gangway, where
they were wont TO sit, solid and aggressive
phalanx has reverted to the possession OF It's carrier
tenants the English Radicals The question hour.
which used to be indefinitely EXTENDED py III
ouries as to the latest incident in the daily career
of n prosecuted postmistress at Clonnakilty, or as
TO Mr. Balfours alleged criminal completely in the
coming off Of the near wheel Of Pat Sulhvans
car on certain night in named street in Sligo Is
now Of modest span and of quite commonplace
character In the Committee of Supply, the Radical
Member in search of the opportunity to save TWO
pence half-penny on one or other OF the Votes Is
again to the fore One result of this abstention OF
the Irish element is condition OF deadly guinness.
The House of Commons, from the proud position OF
being the most attractive theatre in London has
suddenly and completely descended to the lower
platform of q business assembly. There are no
more scenes, no movement. a state oil sUaghauoh'
and q sense of coming collapse.
The prevailing influence has extended to the
Front Opposition Bench, where now the lion, IN
the person of Mr.. Gladstone. lies down with lie
lamb whom Mr.. Chamberlain inadequately repre-
sents. During the recess there was promised LOT
the beginning of the session an explosive scene that
would maintain the reputation or the mouse do
dramatic stage. The Front Bench, corresponding
with that on the opposite side OF the taoie az WHICH
Ministers sit is reserved for eXSllnlsters Desiues
The advantage of prominence and contlguity to the
Sneaker this Bench is privileged inasmuch as us
occupants need not necessarily attend prayers In
order 60 secure a seat For private members tha1
Is a necessity, curious revival of the religious
test as applied to ordinary an event as securing
! a seat for the night. To that end a MEMBER must
be in his place before prayers, the time at WHICH
tickets are dispensed, one of which with MS name
written thereon the pious member sticks into tho
brass receptacle at the back Of the seat he Selects
and may for the remainder of the evening laugh
=. tho nncodly. the foolish virgins who have neg
! lectcd thus to trim their lamp. and so must needs
wander about. dropping into temporarily vacated
scots and humbly withdrawing when the honor
able member who has been at prayers claims hA
own.
When the split in the Liberal party opened and
Lord Harrington and Mr.. Chamberlain resished
office the difficulty about the Front Opposition
Bench did not arise. Mr. Gladstone, oelhS theh IA
office had his seat on the Treasury Bcnch' ana tile
scccdcrs took up their places at the corner vi 'Ho
Hench Immediately behind. The corner seao VI
this Bench is a famous one. always coming into
prominence at Ministerial crises Here Mr.. Brishs
has sat on his occasional Withdrawals from the
Liberal Ministry in respect OF Egypt ana other
matters Here sat Mr.. Forster when he wac
driven out of the Irish Chief Secretarysmp' anu
here he stood on the stormy night when he toio inc
story Of the Kilmainham Treaty. and banded
about with Captain OShca the letter MI Iathel
had written in accepting its Here sat Lord
| 4. af a.
throwing ND the leadership of the House ana the
Cboncellorship of the EXchequer, and here he sl's
in those DAYS on the rare occasions when 10
looks in. elm
Wbcn the scene was shifted, and. AFTER 'he
Cor.raI Election of 1886, Mr. Gladstone ana MS
colcogucs crossed over 10 take their seats Oh 'nc
Front Opposition Bench, the question arose "n"o
would Lord Harrington and MI thahueIi"i" Wv
| They were eX-MnsterS, and had a right 10 Se"'
on this Bench. But they were 10 longer PiiU
NJ Mr. Gladstoncs following: were, indeed Mo
| bittcrcst and most powerful adVersares' ine
rro,, E.pch on either side is from time to time
| . sort of Cabinet Council Chamber, Ill whlcn
important consultations take place ana grave IT,
| solves must be debated and Determined uPoh
To have a detachment of the enemy seated wi'nin
the circle of their inner councils would op'iouois
| n. =, announcement matter embarrassing to botn
| partcs 1t was naturally expected that 'he SC
ccdcrs in crossing the floor of the House. Wouio
take up a corresponding position, seating 'hc"-
| selves on the bench Immediately behind ina, ."
which their former colleagues clustered. MI
BRIGHT actually took that course, ana IN the carry
sessions of the present Parliament his familiar
figure was found in his old corner seat OH 'n0
second bench above the gangway Loru hai'
ington and Mr.. Chamberlain, now recruited ny
Sir Henry James and Mr.. lleneage, geh'iehian
who had held minor Office III Mr.. "lads'oie
| Government and had heroicaily sacrhced ~ ~.
conscience sake, took their places on the froH'
Opposition Bench, appropriating four seats heH'
tho Ganrway. Lord harrington, having CHOSEN