Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-09
The British Parliament.

conservative, moved the address in re-
ply to the Queens speech.
Neither the speech of Mr. Barton in
moving the address, nor that of Mr..
Cross, who seconded the address, at
tracted any attention. The House was
listless until Mr.. Herbert Henry As
quith, Gladstonian, rose to move the
| amendment declaring that the House
had no confidence in the government.
He was greeted with loud and prolonged
cheering by the liberals. Mr.. Asquith
declared that Parliament had met for
the obsequies of dead majority. The
House ought not to daily over a prac-
teal question, but should, as speedily
as possible, place in power a govern
ment representing the decision of the
country as expressed at the polls.
Mr.. Thomas Burt, Gladstonian, sec
onded the no-confdence amendment.
He contended that the question of home
rule for Ireland must dominate all
other questions to which the liberal
party was pledged
The Right Hon. George J. Goschen
said he hoped the House would at last
hear something definite about home
rule. Mr.. Gladstone, he declared, could
no longer shirk explaining his home
rule scheme, nor could Sir William
Eernon-Harcourt cvadc unpleasant
questions by going out of the House in
stead of responding to them.
Mr. Justin Mccarthy said that the
Irish party expected that coercion
would cease when the liberals came
into power. If the liberal governments
home rule bill did not satisfy the peo-
pie of Ireland there would be an end Of
it. Conservative cheers. He believed
in the sincerity of the liberal assurance
that the home rule bill would be kept
in the front Of their legislation. The
Irish party also wanted an early meas
ure for the relief of evicted tenants, and
an inquiry into the cases of Irish pris-
oners wrongly convicted of otlenses
against the crown. They further de-
sired that the term of Imprisonment of
other Irish prisoners be shortened.
Mr.. John Redmond said he would
support Mr.. Asquith, because he con-
sidercd it the duty of every Irish MEM
Der to assist in oustng the present gov
eminent regardless Of the question
whether they were likely to fare better
ut the hands of its successor. He could
not assent in any way to Mr.. Labou-
chere's suggestion to give the New
castle programme precedence over the
home rule question. 1t might be posi-
bic to deal with certain English re-
forms concurrently with home rule, but
he would not consent to any policy
placing home rule in the second rank.
He would not hold Mr.. Gladstone re-
sponsble for the suggested delay of the
home rule question, but he desired to
remind the liberals that nothing had
been heard of this delay during the six
years the Irish had co.operated with
the liberals and assisted them to win in
bye-elcctions. He could not support
any measure looking to redistribu-
ton of political power impairing in the
slightest degree the influences of Ire
land. He hoped that they would not
have to wait until February for provis-
ions of Mr.. Gladstone's bill. 1t was
useless for the liberal party to live in 4
FOOLS paradise. They were going to be
placed in power by Irish votes, and
they must fulfil their pledges. In con-
clusion, he suggested that the autumn
session of Parliament should deal with
the evicted tenants and the Irish politi
cal prisoners measures.
The speech elected much laughter
and cheering from the conservatives.
In the House. of Lords the Earl of
Denbigh moved and the Earl of Fowls
seconded the address in reply to the
speech from the throne.
The Earl of Kimberly complained
that this was the first occasion that no
policy had been Swallowed in the speech
from the throne. There was nothing
in the speech, he declared, that could
be criticised. He hoped that if the
chances of politics reversed the posi-
ton of the parties the liberal govern
ment would receive the generous as
sistance in its foreign policy that the
liberals had accorded the conservative
government.
Lord Salisbury admitted that the
speech was like sealed envelope put
into the hands ola preacher going into
pulpit, and when opened found to
contain nothing. The government had
no measure to present to parliament.
He confessed that he had been disposed
to abandon the speech altogether,
but found, owing to the con-
servatism of the opposition that
that could only be done by general con-
sent. They had now arrived at stage
where the House of Commons was exer-
cising prerogative policy of its OWE
selection-men whose measures would
come after them. Laughter. When
these neil were adopted by the House
of Commons then the House of Peers
would share with the other house the
responsibility for their measures. When
those measures are presented to them
there will be no difficulty in criticising
them. Perhaps then the liberal lords
would abandon their present conspiracy
of silence.
The Duke of Devonshire said that the
time had arrived when effect was about
to be given to the opinions prevailing
in the other house. In declaring that
the country had no confidence in tho
government, the liberal leaders ought
to explain the policy they would adopt
if returned to power. Did the liberals
possess that confidence? The govern
ment would at all events hold office I'M
til it became certain that the varions
sections of the opposition would COM
hine to maintain new government.