Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-17

| terday. There was dash of the pictur-
esque about it. Four hundred gentlemen in
black frock coats and black silk hats re-
Ginning on rows of dull green benches are
not always inspiring. But here were men
In summer attire; white hats dotted every
| where; light gray summer clothes were con-
spicuous-even Mr.. Chamberlain was holt
day clad, and had a big purple orchid in his
outtonhole. while other men were content
with purple roses. Some members walked
about In the glory of duck trousers, dozens
mad snowy waistcoats and at least three
mad no waistcoats at all. One provincial
LEGISLATOR rolled round in a sack-like mill
err suit, with a wideawake hat like an In
summer.
The peers gallery. as I have said was
Wedged tight. Next to Lord Kitchener and
Lord Robert sat Lord Londonderry, big.
strong man; then Earl Spencer, dull-eyed
anecting to be utterly bored: then Lord
Glenesk. smiling and CHEEKY; then the
young Duke of Marlborough. pale and
High Churchman Lord Halifax and others
all sitting tight, and most of them with
their chins resting the wooden railing
and gazing down on the committee in
way rather suggestive of theater crowd.
Lord Kitchener was in the happicst of
humors, laughing and getting handshakes
from peers and altogether enjoying the
whole thing.
Mr.. Balfour's Speech.
An impressive hush fell on the chamber
WHICH WI. bdlIour rose. A little paleneSS
shone through the bronzeness of skin won
on the golf links. He spoke slowly mod
| erately, as though every word had been
prepared. There were no preliminary
phrases. In the early days of last Septem-
ber he said, the whole country was in
MOOD OF expectation. 1t was known that
the long drama of the Sudan was busily
ana surely drawing to a close 1t was a
erama upon which they could not look back
with unmingled satisfaction. Dropping his
voice, he spoke of the tragic death of Cen
eral Gordon, while a low rumbling cheer
spread over the benches. But" exclaimed
the leader of the house. Strengthening him
SELF out, the midday sun of the ID of Sep
tcmber last saw the final and forever crush
ing OF the hover of mahdSm' This time
the cheer was bold and strong In crisp
outline Mr.. Balfour pictured what Lord
Kitchener had accomplished in Egypt. The
hr1sk cheer: and up above the clock sat the
hero of the Sudan and the day blushing be-
neath his African-scorched skin and awk-
Wardly twiddling his thumbs.
An almost scoffing laugh, low but sfgnifi-
cant, rustled through the house when Mr..
John Morley rose. He had been sitting with
plnched features, waxen. tight-lipped, alb
solutely unmoved amid the excitement that
sunused the benches on both sides of the
house. Now he spread his papers on the
treasury box, took a sip of water, cleared
his voice, and started his attack of the big
red-faced man who was looking down from
the peers gallery.
Mr.. Morley's Reply.
Mr.. Morley recognized the tremendous
task before him. You could see that in
every line Of his face; there was evidence
IN the high-pitched, slightly quivering tone
of voice. Lord Kitchener watched John
Morley closely. AS the charges were
pushed home raspingly the color slowly
lapsed from the features of Lord Kitchener
until he sat quite serious-the boyish fun
all washed out of his face and only now
and then did wan smile break from the
corners of his lips. Mr.. Morley grew white
with Indignation that mahdis tomb had
been molested. Lord Kitchener said this
was politically advisable, and that the Mo-
mammalian officers had urged the action
va dear near! near; sounded several approving
voices. wen, has 1t come to this?' asked
Mr. Morley harshly, that on a matter af-
fecttng our authority and civilization our
standard is to be taken from Mohammedan
olllctrs IT was said that the disentomb-
Heht OF the mahdi was necessary to i'm
press the natives. If so, why was it done
oE stealth? 1T wasn't" said Mr. Balfour
w asn't the head cut OFF," demanded the
phllosophic radical, half throwing himself
across the treasury box, and glowering at
Mr.. Baifour. No said Mr. BaIfour look
t fa straight into Mr.. Morley's eyes The
i iace lengthened while he twisted his mouth
INTO circle. He dved among his papers
ana brought up the dispatch of Lord Kit
cnener that the head had been preserved
yes. explained Mr.. Balfour, but there
apart through natural decay" Well
Was me retort, 1T was a pretty gruesome
I'M 1nihs to preserve" So Mr.. Morley went on.
though he started with a rush intent on
merry onslaught, his powers slackcned. and
al inc end his speech was ragged
In one of Mr.. Morley's flights of oratorv
n NE SPOKE as though there We're cases in
Whlch rough treatment to royal remains
might be defensible. Louis XIV. who ey-
humed 500 corpSeS was one of the ner
31hs VINO cld not deserve much better"
hat Ia
cromwell and his friends We're ordered to
De thrown out of Westminster Abbey. No
sooner was Cromwell mentioned than an
lncensed lrishman shouted Hear hear
near, hear'-a change of feeling as he
tween the protector and the mahdi which
sent the house into fits of laughter Mr.
Morley dld not pursue the subject. Here
were the very men on whom he relied for
support ready to give all their supDort To
hloodthirsty tyrant on the Nile and vet
glory IN the fact that one of England's
greatest sons should be treated with ten
times greater indignity. Well may cynics
declare that politics are almost as un-
savory as a bad egg
After Mr.. Balfour had repudiatad the
charge of Dissertation Lord Charles Reres
1ord, IN breezy. quarterback style gave a
capital, rousing, chatting speech thai ac-
tually provoked Mr. Morley into hroad
grin.
Some Sharp Thrusts
Talk about Dissertation to the mahdrs
tomb! Why, what was that compared to
the desecratfon of tombs perpetrated by
the British Museum, of which Mr.. Morley
was actually trustee? Not only were the
tombs of kings desecrared, but actually
people who were worshiped as gods. And
the right honorable gentleman is more or
less responsible for that" observed Lord
Charles, amid bubbling laughter what
say is he added, that we ought to be
consistent about these things. You take
the head of man who died 1900 years
ago and turn it into an inkpot and it is all
right. But If you take the head of a man
who died only two or three years ago, you
say 1t is horrible. Now l want us to be
consistent"
Mr.. Weary Gibbs thought there was too
much fuss made over the mahdi's bones
Why, he said there were infinitely more
tombs destroyed when the st. Pancras rail-
way station was built. Personally he
observed, Il don't care what happens to
my bones when I have shuff1ed off this
mortal coil, and 1 care still less for the
bones of a bloody ruffian like the mahdi."
Lively Speeches.
Other speeches followed. Members slipped
away for mouthful Of dinner and then
~ mo har ocraiv Tr,t no