New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-06
LONDON NOTES.
NEW MAN IN THE COMMONs-lN
CHAMBERLAIN'S GOUT-OLD FA-
VORTTEs ON THE STAGE.
London. February ..

tion for excluding the Bishops from the House
Of Lords. but It was onvened toward the close
by brilliant speech from Lord Hugh Cecil. n.
had spoken sevo al times since his election for
Greenwich 70 the present Parliament. but he had
never succeeded in commanding attention. The
House Of Commons in ono respect Is one n the
most democratic bodies in the world. II has its
own standards OF merit and debating style and
these are not affected by birth. title. social pres
tlge or family connections. II VIII not listen to
2 lord simply because he IL a lord and the son
Of a Prime Minister He must have something
10 say and know how to say II. Lord Hugh
Cecil was only twenty-sx when he entered Par
lament and his maiden speech was considered
sophomoric and Oppressively arrogant. His SUBJ
senuent appearances in debate simply confirmed
the impression that he had a great deal 70 learn
and would never succeed in acquiring the House
Of Commons style. Last night this Judgment
was suddenly reversed
Tho debate was opened during the dinner hour
bv Mr. Herbert Lewis. a Nonconformist member
for one OF the Welsh districts, who moved
resolution declaring that the legislative powers
Of the Bishops vas a great hndrance 70 the dis
charge Of their spiritual functions and prejudi-
ciaI TO the Commonwealth His speech was an
ingenious argument. the force OF which was i'm
naired by maladroit reference 20 a similar
resolution offered in the Parliament of l6i1-a
precedent from Revolutionary times. Mr. Ste
venson as a Churchman supported the resolution
on the ground that the Bishops ought not to Be
engaged in secular politics. The debate was
continued listlessy for two hours. with the front
Ministerial bench empty and with Sir Edward
Clarke as the chief champion Of the Bishops.
At 10 O'Clock when Mr.. Carvell Williams had
declared that the lay peers would not greatly
regret the absence Of the Bishops and that
thousands Of Churchmen would welcome the
passage Of the resolution as a gain 10 religion
and the country. the tall STOPPING figure Of Lord
Hugh Cecil was seen on the Cnionist side. and
in a few minutes the House was amazed to fad
itself listening TO a really brilliant speech.
The speech was delivered without notes. and
with admirable nuency and earnostncss Of man.
nor For the first time members were impressed
| with the speakers resemblance 20 his father
ana with his sobriety ~ Judgment and maturity
/ Of phrasing The arguments of the mover and
/ seconder OF the resolution we're summed up and
temperately answered with the lightness OF
touch and play Of humor which tho House Of
/ Commons dearly loves. When he had laid
/ stress on the fact that the small portion ~ their
J time which the Bishops spend In a not very Ia
/ borious assembly would not De ~ much value
for the spiritual government ~ their di0ceses
and had contorded that IN honestly trying to
perform a secular duty they were not degrading
their clerical or episcopal character. ne startled
/ MS auditors by opening a new line q attack.
and showing boy IL could he mot BY this time
thu House vas crowded an The dulest mem-
Ter was convinced thai new man had made
his mark and had a future career in reserve for
| him.
THE LINE OF ATTACK.
The line Of attack was that the Established
/ Church ought not 10 have representation in the
House Of Lords as a matter Of privilege or ex-
elusive right when other religious oode. were
unrepresen;ed on that ground he considered
the presence of the Bishops IN the Upper House
| as in6efensiale Diminishing tho plea Of excu-
/ sive privilege for a single religious communion,
he justified their attendance a. the House OF
Lords because it was Of general benefit to tire
nation to have the educated classes represented
there The Bishops came from the universities,
and were in accord with the great body Of edu-
Gated opinions They ought not 70 he excluded
from the House Of Lords, but their influence
should DO reinforced by the presence OF other
typical men representing educated opinion In
stead Of taking away the legislative privileges
!
extend the rights Of membership 70 life peers
who would represent other religious bodies he
mentioned he late pr Dale as a typical Nom
conformist who would have dsn!hsd the House
Of Lords as a life peer and arsued in general
way that the constitution Of the Upper ChaFn-
Der ought to be changed so as TO make il not
less but more representative Of the educated
classes Of the United kingdom.
I'll, ,-1
fercd was coldly received on the Liberal side
ard was Withdrawn at the suggestion Of Mr.
Bafour. who declared himself 20 be in sympa-
thy with lis toleran. spirit. Neither side OF the
House was repareh % accept an academic
proposition for raising by life peeraces the prN'-
leges of Nonconformsts. Roman CathoAes anu
other religious bodies To the level Of the eA-
elusive rights Of tie F. glish church. Sir Noh'
ard Webster wound up the debate with lo!@
defence Of the Bishops and the Welsh resolu'on
was defeated by a majority Of al votes. Lo'N
Hugh Cecil. Iy the fine audacity OF MS p'V'
posal and by the reasonableness OF MS aisu'
mcnt. had made the only important contribute"
to the debate and had given In" country So"s
thing 10 think over. The outburst az 'hee'"'
at the close Of his speech was an unerrins ssh
that a new and most promising man hau &c
vealed himself Now that Lord Curzon ~ Neu.
lesion has left the Commons Tor s''F"e ."
India. Mr. Brodrick and Mr.. George Nlhu"a''
are the chief UNDERSTANDS for statesmen o' ''''
Unionist side A third candidate for hlsh h''
crs in English pubic life has presented h''S'''
in his thirtieth year.
NOTHING TO ENGAGE MIR. CHAMBERLAIN
4 Mr.. Chamberlain * not likely to take an az.
D tive part in the work OF the session since N,
is no measure among the Governments iesN'
lative projects in which he takes deep ih''''S''
. The routine work Of the Colonial once III s''o
nant times hardly sufficos FOR statesHa" - :.
$ such extraordinary energy. Some Of MS "'e"..
= explain his illness as the natural result % ~,
Of occupation They refer 10 him as ma" w.,
3D. thrives upon hard work. and IS al'Ihs Mn'"N ~.
n | he has lnck Of serious EMPLOY ment W nav ~