The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-18

London. March l5.-Premier R~alfour's
government today was defeated In the
House OF Commons by the combined
liberal and n~ationalsts vote. This re-
verse was Tue to the prohibition by
Mr.. Wyndham. chief secretary for
Ireland. OF the teaching OF Gaelic in the
junior grades OF the Irish nationalist
schools. Mr.. Balfour. though defeated
by a majority OF eleven on this ques-
ton. does not regard the vote as one
OF want OF confidence and he will not
resign on this account. His determine
ton not TO resign was strengthened by
ing defeat. he was able to secure a
majority OF twenty five.
The failure OF the government to
carry the Hous with il on a question
of purely administrative policy in Its
Irish department, is generally M
ted to greatly weaken it's already wan
ing prestige with the country, although
Ii is no thought probable that any
immediate development will ensue.
Those terrible Irish.' as they are
described for the moment by the union
1919. hIiAN ~ Sal
Ralfour's defeat. On the question OF
Catholic education Monday night. the
nationalists had voted with the union
list government. but even while SO do
ing they were planning the downfall
OF the conservatives. This afternoon,
the mine so ingeniously laid, was set
of with a success that thrilled the
country. The strategy with which the
whole coup was planned. and the scenes
that marked its elimination. recllle1
the times when Gladstone and ParHell
waged a titanic struggle in the same
arena
The early afternoon papers only gave
the figures OF the voting on division.
and readers were left to guess wheth-
er or not the government had resigned.
A wild rush was made for the House
OF Commons and many elderly
ran half a mile or more. while others
drove recklessly to Westminster.
Within the House OF Commons Itself.
strange scene were being enacted.
The House had resolved itse into
committee Of supply TO discuss the vote
for Irish education. which had alreadv
been debated. John Redmond made a
complaint about the prohibition OF
Gaelic in the schools. but instead OF a
long speech which 1t would seem he had
| prepared, judging by the vo.ume OF
| notes in his hand. the Irish leader said
only a few words.
Mr. Wyndham replied with equal
Orevity and it was evident ne was saw
ing himself for a string or protests
from other Irish members.
The treasury bench was deserted.
! save for the chief secretary for Ireland.
and three OF his junior colleagues, and
barely twenty supporters Of the gov
eminent were in their places. Mr.
Ba.four chatted merrily in the specta-
tors gallery with a friend. Then the
Ooit fell.
No one rose to reply to Mr.. Wynd-
ham. the Irish party for once utilizing
silence as its deadliest weapon. Mr..
| Redmond had said there were TO be
no speeches. and though the rank and
| file OF the n~ationalists did not know
the reason. not having been admitted
10 the secret plan set on foot the pre-
| y1ous evening by their leader and their
chief whip. they obeyed imp icity.
Discipline triumphed, and not one word
came from the Irish benches The lib
era.s too sat silent. though they were
i~gnorant OF the projected coup. and
l.i.uout a reply a division was ineVita-
BILE. Only then did Mr. Wyndham and
The government whips realize how de-
; iberately they had been outwt ed.
In desperation, the government whips
sent messengers in cabs and with teie-
grams and 10 the telephones. but with
out avail. for when the telers o. the
vote returned. the clerk or the house
handed Sir Thomas Esmonde the COW
eted little slip of paper winch Il gwen
to the winning side.
In A second the members who had
wdel in. realized that the govern
ment had been beaten n then there
arose such a cheer as Westminster has
not heard for many a day.
The irish and liberal member
c!ambered upon the benches and yell
ed themselves hoarse and for nearly
five minutes pandemonium relsneo.
s3eyeral times Sir Thomas Esnionde
tried TO read out the figures but bis
voice rss drowned In the uproar.
2r Balfour, who had been just In
time TO vote for the government sat
smiling grimly. Finally there was
comparative quiet and Sir Thomas
Esnonde read Ayes Isl. noes 80" Al
this the storm OF cheering broke out
afresh. The government was defeat
ed by II votes.
members animatedly discussed whe'h-
er or not Mr. Balfour would resign.
The premier. however. quickly set
thege doubts at rest BY saying that ne
saw no reason for such action. hanks
TO the prolonged exuberance OF the
Irish cheers and the hectoring or III.
Ralfour the government Whips GOT
the chence of summoning their absent
supporters and when. about ten mi7-
utes later John Redmonc moved TO re-
port progress on the ground that the
government had not a majority abe
20 trarsact the business OF the country
the government secured tie narrow
majority Of ..
II the division had occurred a Few
minutes earlier the government In
evftabiy would AVE been defeated and