The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-29
The Row in the House of Commons.

The scene which took place on Thursday
evening in the House of Commons, was the
most disgraceful ever witnessed in O Parli-
amentary body. There WAS tumultuous
outburst Of indignation in tho German
Reichstag when AHLwARDT brought his
groundless charges against Finance Minis
ter MIGUEL. In tho French Chamber OF
Deputies. since the outbreak OF the Panama
scandal. there have been times when q
storm Of bowls and catcalls has rendered
debate impossible. But. although on such
occasions there has been no lack Of vitupe-
rative epithets and even threats. the peo-
pies representatives have maintaineda GER
tain degree Of self-control and have at least
refrained from coming to blows. The House
Of Commons. on tho other hand. during
the debate in committee on the financial
proposals Of the Homo Rule bill. was the
scene of an actual fight between the Tory
Ulstermen. seconded by some Conserve
tives, and the members OF the Irish Nation
alist party. After the shocking spectacle
presented on Thursday evening. 1t will be
impossible for Englishmen to talk Of the
decorum and dignity Of their Parliament.
There is no doubt that the responsibility
CHAMBERLAIN. A renegade is proverbially
bitter, and, since Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN de-
serted Mr.. GLADSTONE. he has surpassed
the Tories themselves in the violence Of his
opposition to his former chief. On Thurs
day evening he made the impending closure
the pretext for peculiarly venomous
speech. in the course of which he compared
the Prime Minister to HERoD, apparently
alleging that Mr.. GLADSTONE had stifled
the harmless Unionists very much as the
King Of Judea Is said to have slaugh-
tered the innocents. Biblical comparisons
seeming TO be in order. Mr.. 7. P. O'CoNNoR
suggested that the name Of JUDAS would
fit Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN. The singing aptness
OF this epithet reused the Tory Ulstermen
to fury and led to free fight. Blows were
struck right and left. and the whole space be-
tween the front benches is described as filed
with mass Of members struggling, cursing.
clawing. and upsetting one another. Among
other incidents Of the affair. we are told
that Mr.. T. HEALY's high hat was smashed
down over his eyes, an eclipse which did not
hinder him from levelling Mr.. HANBURY;
while Mr.. w. REDMOND. Parnellite, took
advantage Of the melee to knock down
Col. SAUNDERsoN. the doughty champion
OF Orangeism. SAUNDERsoN seems. indeed.
to have Jared badly at the hands OF both
the Irish factions. for he subsequently pro-
tested that Mr.. CREAM, anti-Parnellite. had.
without provocation. hit him in the eye,
statement denied by Mr.. HARRINGTON. who
explained that the Orange champion had
struck several Irish patriots before his per-
nicious activity was checked.
The Chairman Of Committee. Mr.. MELLoR.
proving entirely incompetent to bring Or
der out OF chaos. the Speaker himself was
sent for; but all that Mr.. PEEL did was to
request Mr.. O'CoNNoR to withdraw the
offensive appellation applied to Mr.. CHAM
BERLAIN. This Mr.. O'OoNNoR consented to
do. and very properly expressed regret IL
any word OF his had contributed to bring
about most regrettable state Of affairs
Provoking epithets were scarcely the fea-
lures OF the incident that most loudly
called for censure. but the Speaker declined
to take cognizance OF the blows that had
been struck, and the inference Is that Mr.
CHAMBERLAIN hereafter. while speaking In
committee. will subject his language to
severe revision in view Of possible recrimi-
nation in a concrete form. Whether the
term JUDAS" Is more supplementary
than "HERoD" is nice question which
seems to have been left undecided.
We repeat that we are scarcely likely to
hear any further reference to the superior
dignity OF the British House Of Commons.
Should the scene OF Thursday evening Re |
repeated. English legislators may do we'll !
to visit the French Chamber OF Deputies
and take lessons In the decencies OF Parlia- |
procedure.