The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-02
Gladstone Defies the Lords TO a
Combat for Life.
THE PReMIeR's LAST SPEECH.
He Is Expected to Lay Down the Cares
Of Office in . Few Days.
Never Was He Grader Than when
striking tAe Firss Blev In . New
Crusade In which Younger Msa Mass
Lsad-Lord Kesebery HE Successor.

LesnoN, March 1.--Giadstone was loudly
cneered this afternoon rs he entered the
house oi commons The speaker put the
question that the house of lords amend
ment TO the local government bill be con-
s'dered. Gladstone rose and addressed
tie mouse In tuli, resonant voice, barring
slight huskiness. but with marvellous en-
ergy and vigor. He said that the govern
ment felt that the operation OF sending
anc resembling bills from one house to the
other had been continued long enough.
Loud cheers,l To continue the practice
would be 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 reject
ing the house Of lords amendment by
abandoning nope of passing tho bill. or to
accept them under protest. with the hope
OF soon reversing them. The government
had adopted the latter course. ICheers.l
Gladstone continued:
I'VE have now reached an acute stage.
Ii appears that the lords desire to ami
hiiate the whole work of the house of
commons in regard to the present bill.
The government desires to save some-
certs the amendments but with deciara-
s'on that the differences between the
houses - not temporary or casual. This
state OF things, arm compelled TO say,
cannot continue. Prolonged cheers.
The differences raised between the assem-
bly, elected by the people and the assem-
by occupied by virtue Of birth and not
Talents were Of considerable variety. Once
raised they must go to issue. [Cneers.
No doubt there Was . higher authority
than the house of commons. namely, the
authority of the nation fcheers). which
must in the last resort decide. Renewed
cheers and opposition jeers.I When that
Judgment is to be invited 10 . question
which the government alone can decide"
Gladstone closed by asking the house to
accept the lords amendments.
Hon. A. J. Balfour, Conservative leader,
rose amid cheers to reply. He said Glad
stones speech was declaration against
the ancient constitution of the realm. lie
asked Why the government did not start
the agitation against the house of lords
when the latter rejected .ths home rule
bill? That bill convinced the country
that legislation must be controlled By
chamber which would not bstray them.
Balfour added that those who believed in
the ancient constitution looked forward
without dismay to the fight which the
government announced. They hrmiy be-
lieved the nation WAS convinced that tho
lords had vindicatcd 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 dsnunciation Of the
whole house and proclamation Of . long
and protracted agitation of the country
for 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 to advance than destruction Of
the lords.
Samuel Storey. Of Sunderland. Radical,
regretted that the government had &C
cepted the lords amendments and ex-
pressed hope that Gladstone was in earnest
in his declaration in regard TO the lords
as. according to the speaker, he would
have plenty Of men behind him In the
country. The amendments were agreed
to, 273 to 81, and the house adjourned.
There was state Of feverish excitement
throughout tho debate. and the strain was
apparent in the faces OF Gladstone and
other members Of the ministry. While
Gladstone was talking it 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 Radicals and Irish.
Daring the session Chancellor Harcourt
announced that the government had no
information which would lead IL TO believe
any government desired the Resembling
of the monetary conference. The British
government did not intend TO make such
prorosa.
The Pail Mall Gdsette announces that IL
is definitely settled that Gladstone will
have an audience with the queen Saturday
and then officially tender his resignation.
II adds that Lord Rosebery will be sum
moned. In conclusion the PaH Nall Ga
ssste says there is no present intention to
dissolve parliament. and IL has been de-
cide1 that Gladstone will retain his seat In
the commess, but will not remain . men,
ber Of the cabinet.
A deputation OF extreme Radicals,
headed by Labouchere. waited TODAY upon
the Liberal whip. Rt. Hon. Edward Ma
loribanks. and protested against the idea
tha, Lord Rosebesy should be selected to
succeed Gladstone. saying that IL the pre-
mier were not chosen from among the
members OF the commons they would
leave the Liberal party.
This afternoon Gladstone's private Sec
retary informed an Associated Press repre-
sentative t.,at the resignation of the pre-
n,ier cannot long be delayed, that at the
audience with the queen yesterday he
referred TO the increasing difficulties ow-
ing TO his failing sight. deafness and age.
and told her majesty that he could not
long continue TO bear the responsibilities
Of the premiership.
A full cabinet council was held this
afternoon, lasting two hours. 20 consider
the house OF lords amendments 20 the
parish council bill
The speech OF Gladstone is variousiy In
terpre,ed. In some quarters is is sup
posed 10 herald speedy dissolution, In
Others IL discrsdits the idea that he will
favor the choice Of peer as his successor.
The queen will hold council OF minis
terS al Windsor castle Saturday. Tha
business TO be discussed viii he connected
with the proroga,ion Of pariisment.
The Tsas<s says: The close Of great
career cannot TO contemplated save with
sadness aad regret. Friends and oppon-
enss are united in this crisis by common
sentiment OF respeetfni sympathy that