The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-02
Gladstone Addresses the House Of
Commons With His Wonted
Force and Vlgor
While Speaking It Was Whis-
pered It Might Be His
Last Effort
The Amendment by the Lords Accepted,
with Regrst-As to the Coming
Premier.


eheered this afternoon as he entered the
house of commons. The speaker put the
question that the house Of lords amend
ment 10 the local government bill be con-
sidered. Gladstone rose and addressed the
house In full. resonant voice. barring q
slight huskinsas. bat with marvellous en-
srRy and vigor. lie said; "The govern
msnt has felt that the operation Of sending
and resembling bill from one house 10 the
other has continued long enough. loud
cheering. To continue the process would
be the loss Of dignity TO both houses, and
theRovefnmsnt has decided 10 stop the
operation and take a decided course. The
government had the choice Of rejecting the
house Of lords amsndmsnts and abandon
ing all hope of passing the bill. or TO accept
them under protest with the hope of soon
reversing them. The government has
adopted the latter course" (Chssrs)
Gladstone continued: "We have nov
reached the acute stage. 10 appears that
the lords desire 90 nnPihilats the whole
work Of the house Of commons. In regard
10 the present bill the government desires
to save something from the wreck; there
fore 10 has accepted the amendment but
with declaration of differences between
the houses that is not temporary or casual.
This state of things. l am compelled to say.
cannot continue. Prolonged cheers.
The issues raised between the asse bly,
elected By the people and the assembly oo-
eupisd By many men of virtue and talents
are Of considerable variety. Once raised
they must 90 10 issue. tChssrs. No
doubt there 10 higher authority than the
house OF commons. namely. the authority
of the nation Iohssrsl, which must In the
last resort decide. Renewed cheers and
opposition oheers When that judgment
10 20 be invited Is q question which the
government, alone can decide" Gladstone
closed by asking the house to accept the
lords amendments.
Hon. A. ]. Balfour. conservative leads'.
rose amid cheers TO reply. lie said Glad
stones speech was q declaration against the
ancient constitution of the realm and asked
why the government did not start an agita-
zion against the house Of lords when the
latter rejected the home rule bill That
had convinced the country that ienislatiOn
must be controlled by q chan Der which
voald not betray them.
AZ the conclusion Of Balfour's speech ths
amendments we're agreed 90, 2I3 10 thirty
seven, and the house then adjourned.
There was a state OF fevsrish exoitemsnt
thi oughout the debate, and the strain was
apparent in the faces OF Gladstone and
other members Of tho ministry. Nhile
GlIdatone was talking Il Was whispered on
all sides that the great liberal leader Was
making his last speech to the commons.
His delayed attack on the lords delighted
the radioSls and the Irish.
Later BalfoHr remarked that those who
believed In the ancient constitution looked
forward without dismay 10 the hght which
the government had announced. TheT
nrmly believe the nation is convinced that
the lords Vindicated their claim 30 the con-
fidenoe of the country.
Lofd Randolph Churchill said the deoiar-
alton OF war was made upon tho spur of the
moment and founded upon q slender basis.
Glsdstone's denunciation of the whole
house aud proclamation of a lenR and pro-
traotsd agitation throughout the country
for the abolition of the lords was absurd.
There IL no justification for holding mp the
lords 20 the sxeoTation OF the people, and
there 10 no more fatal schema for any party
to advance than the destruction Of the
lords.
samuel Story, Sunderland radical. re
aTettsd that the government accepted the
lords amendments and expressed the hope
that Gladstone was in earnest in his dsclar-
alton in regard 10 the lords, 40. according
10 the speaker. he would have plenty Of
men behind him in the county.
The Pail Mall Gazstte announces that ID
is definitely settled that Gladstone will have
audience With the queen saturday and then
officially tender his resignation. IL added
that Lord Roseberry will be summoned. In
conclusion, the Pail Mall Gazstts says
there 10 no present intention of the disso-
luton of parliament and 10 has been de-
cided that Gladstone will retain his seat in
the commons but will not remain . mem
ber Of the cabinet.
A deputation Of extreme radicals. hsadsd
by Labouchere. waited to-day upon the
liberal whip. kiRhI Hon. Edward Majori-
banks. and protested against the idea that
Lord RossbsTry should be selected to sue
oeed GladstOns, saying II the premier is NOT
chosen from among the membefs of the
commons they would leave the liberal
party.