The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-16
bALFOUR'S CABINET IS
BEATEN II COMMONS BY
snTHOSE TERRIBLE IRISH''
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST, PAGE.)

1uUUl tLlltliUIL ittIOii
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PACED
usually short list of questions had brought
on the business OF the day nearly half an
hour ahead of the usual time: Then Ian
guidly the House resolved itself into COM
mitfee OF supply 20 discuss the vote Tor
Irish education. which had already been
Profound peace reigned and there was not
a sign OF the coming parliamentary storm
watched the whispered conference taking
place between the Irish whips. John Red
mond made a complaint about the prohibi-
ton Of Gaelic In the schools, but instead OF
a long speech, which Ii would seem he had
prepared, judging by the volume of notes
In his hand, the Irish leader said only Few
words Mr. Wyndham replied with equal
brevity and IL was evident he was saving
himself for q string OF protests from other
Irish members.
The treasury bench was deserted, save
for the chief secretary of Ireland and three
of his Junior colleagues, and barely twenty
supporters OF the government were in their
places Opposite was John Morley with
Herbert Gladstone and Richard knight
Causton. the Liberal whips. These sat in
solemn silence on the front bench with a
-sprfnkIing of Liberals behind them. Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman, the leader of
the Liberal party, wars absent. MIR. Bal
four chatted merrily in the spectators gal
lery with a friend. Then the bolt fell
No enc rose TO reply to Mr.. Wyndham.
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 Nationalists did
not know the reason, not having been ad-
mitted to the secret plan set foot the
previous evening by tneir i Leader ana tnel
cipline triumphed, and not one word came
from the Irish benches. The Liberals too.
sat silent, though they were ignorant of
a division was inevitable. Only then did
Mr.. Wyndham and the government whips
realize how deliberately they had been out
witted.
The Associated Press learns that John
Redmond and Sir Thomas Esmonde had
planned the division for o'clock, and the
House al 2:55. In desperation the govern
ment sent messengers in cabs and with
kilograms and TO telephones, but without
avail, for wnen the teIlers of the vote re-
turned the clerk of the House handed Sir
Thomas ESmonde the coveted little slip of
paper which is given to the winning side.
In a second the members who had crowded
I'm realized that the government had been
beaten and then there arose such a cheer
as Westminster has net heard for many a
day. The Irish and Liberal members clam
bered upon benches and yelled themselves
hoarse and for nearly five minutes pan
demonium reigned. Several times Sir
ures, but his weak voice was drowned in the
uproar. Mr.. Balfour. who had been just in
time to vote for the government sat smiling ing
quiet. and Sir Thomas Esmonde read:
HAyes, al; noes 130." AT this time the
storm Of cheering broke out afresh. Tine
government was defeated by. eleven votes.
MAJORITY SECURED.
A rush TO the lobby followed and the MEM
bers intimately DISCUSSED whether on not
Mr.. Balfour would resign. The premier,
however quickly set these doubts at rest
by saying that he saw no reason for such
action. Thanks TO the prolonged exuberance
of the Irish cheers and the hectoring of Mr.
Balfour. the government whips got the
chance OF summcning their absent support
ers. and when. about ten minutes later. John
Redmond moved to report progress on the
ground that the government had not a
majority able 10 transact the business OF
the country, the government secured the
narrow majority of twenty-five.
II the division had occurred few min
utes earlier the government inevitably would
have been defeated and compelled to resign
To avert this. old men who had not run for
many a year came rushing into the House
painfully out of breath, while Sir Edward
Henry Carson had not even waited to put
on a necktie4
BY a curious coincidence the only other
defeat suffered by the Unionist party since
Lord salisbury came into power, and which
endangered the existence of the govern
ment, occurred nearly eight years ago or
Sir Thomas Esmonde's amendment TO Ger
aid Ralfour's land purchase bill. when il
whip OF the Irish party 10 declare the gov
eminent in a minority. which. on that DC.
caS1on, was one or only four votes.
The members OF the government and theil
supporters tonight profess that they re-
gard to-day's division more In the light OF
a joke than anything else, although they
admit that IL is a particularly annoying
joke. especially in view OF the pending bye
elections. There is no suggestion of SHARP
practice and even the members Of the Cab
met privately admit they they were woe
fully outwitted by the ''irrepressible Irish.
SIR Thomas Esmonde in summing up tn,
events of one OF the most interesting days
in recent English parliamentary history
said 20 the Associated Press: "To-day's di
vision may be taken as the handwriting or
the wall. Experienced parliamentary hands
do not attach undue importance TO it, bu
nevertheless IL Enthusiastically fOreshadow,
an approaching dissolution, which To som,
extent IL hastens. IL is a blow TO the moral,
OF the government and its supporters anC
corresponding encouragement TO their op
ponents in Parliament and in the country
IL is enough TO know that the government
not matter TO inquire. We understand tina
they are in difficulties in the House and W,
know that they not as well qualified
as they are supposed 10 be TO carry on tn,
business OF the country. The pendulum
already swinging towards Liberal reviva
and to-day's events will accelerate tina
movement. With one or two more advers
divisions in the House OF Commons an ap
peal to the country becomes inevitable. O
course there is always a chapter OF acct
dents-in politics the only thing certain 4
the Unforeseen. but unless the return o
Joseph Chamberlain after Easter bring
new vigor and new cohesion TO the Unionis
party their race Is well night run.