The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-02
GREETED WITH LOUD CHEERS
Final Lasfing of the Ancient
House of Lords.
PEERS AMENDMENTS ACCEPTED
England's Aged and Honored Pre-
mier Will o-Morrow Officially
Tender His Resignation.

LONDON. March Gladstone was
loudly cheered this afternoon as he en-
tered the House of Commons. The
Speaker put the question that the House
of Lords amendments to the local govern
ment bill be considered.
Gladstone arose and addressed the
House in full. resonant voice, barring a
slight huskiness, but with marvellous
energy and vigor. He said the Govern
ment felt the operation OF sending and
resembling the bill from one House to the
other had continued long enough. Loud
cheering. To continue the process would
be a loss of dignity to both houses. and
the Government had decided to stop the
operation and take decided course.
The Government had the choice Of re-
jecting the House of Lords amendments
and abandoning the hope of passing the
bill or accepting them under a protest
with che hope of soon reversing them.
The Government adopted the latter course.
[Cheers.l
Gladstone continued: 1--WE have now
reached an acute stage. 1t appears the
Lords desire to annihilate the whole work
of the House of Commons. In regard TO
the present bill he Government desires to
save something from the wreck. therefore
it has accepted the amendments, but with
the declaration that the differences be-
tween the houses are not temporary or
casual. This state of things, l am COM
PEELED to say, cannot continue. Prolonged
cheers. The issues raised between the
assembly elected by the people and the
assembly occupied by many men Of virtue
and talents are of considerable variety.
fn ha iscu
[Cheers.] No doubt there is higher author
iTy than the House of Commons, namely.
the authority of nations [cheers] which
must in the last resort decide. Renewed
cheers and opposition cries of 'At once. u
When that judgment is to be invited Is a
question which the Government alone can
decide"
Gladstone closed by asking the House to
accept the Lords amendments.
Hon. a. j. Balfour. Conservative leader,
arose amid cheers to reply. He said
Gladstone's speech was declaration
against the ancient constitution of the
realm. He asked why the Government
did not start the agitation against the
House of Lords when the latter rejected
the home-rule bill? That bill convinced
the country that legislation must be con-
trolled by the chamber which would not
betray them.
Later Balfour remarked that those who
believed in the ancient constitution looked
forward without dismay to the fight which
the Government announced. Thev firmly
believe the nation is convinced that the
Lords had vindicated their claim to the
confidence of the country.
Lord Randolph Churchill said the decla-
ration of war was made upon the spur of
the moment and founded upon slender
basis. Gladstone's denunciation of the
whole house and the proclamation of a
long and protracted agitation throughout
the couptr for the abolition of the Lords
was absurd. There was no Justification
for holding up the Lords to the execration
of the people and there was no more fatal
scheme for any party than the destruction
of the Lords.
Samuel Storey of Sunderland, radical.
regretted that the Government accepted
the Lords amendments. and expressed a
hope that Gladstone was in earnest in the
declaration in regard to the Lords. as ac-
cording to the speaker he would have
plenty of men behind him in the country.
At the conclusion OF the speeches the
amendments were agreed to by vote of
273 tn 81, and the House adjourned.
There was a state of feverish excite
ment throughout the debate and the strain
was apparentin in the faces of Gladstone and
the other members of the Ministry.
While Gladstone was talking it was
whispered on all sides the great Liberal
leader was making his last speech 10 the
Commons. His delayed attack On the
Lords delighted the radicals and the Irish.
During tile session Chancellor Harcourt
announced the Government had no in
formation which would lead it 20 believe
any Government desired the reassem bling
OF the monetary conference. The British
Government did not intend 10 make such a