Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-07-24
Today's Telegraphic News
Cabinet VIII Not Resign.

LODuOD, July "a. premier balIOur
announced to the House of Commons
today that the Cabinet would not resign
following the unfavorable vote in the
House OF Thursday night.
to suffocation when the session began at
2 O'Clock this afternoon. The an
nouncement, made by Premier Balfour
Thursday night, following the vote on
which The ministry was defeated, that
he would make a statement to the House
today, was responsible for bringing out
the crowd.
1t was just 2.25 o'clock when Premier
Balfour rose to make bis statement 10
the House. He said that the question
presented was one of great constitutional
importance. According to the estab-
lished practice, it is not necessary for
the government to resign or to advise
the dissolution of Parliament when it
has been defeated under such circum-
stances as those under which the I'M
favorable vote on Thursday night was
registered. The belief that if a govern
ment is defeated on any subject
it should resign Immediately or dis
solve Parliament, he declared, is
fallacious, az the practice has been quite
the opposite OF this. There never had
been government which has lasted four
or FIVE years or longer, he said, which
had not suffered many defeats similar 20
that OF Thursday night. He pointed out
that the Gladstone ministry was defeated
thrice in 1872 and that the Cabinet did
not resign. Under the circumstances
The government did not consider the de-
feat as being occasion either for its resig.
nation or for the dissolution of Parlia-
ment. He declared that there is no
doubt that the present government con-
tinues to enjoy the confidence ofthe pub
lie, and if members of the opposition did
not believe this, the opportunity to test
the proposition would be presented short
ly.
The Premier continued his speech by
citing instances of defeats suffered by
previous ministries, similar to that Of
Thursday night, which had not been
followed by the resignation of the govern
ments. He dwelt at length upon the
policy of former Premier Gladstone in
declining to accept small defeats as an
intimatiOn that the government should
resign while it continued to retain nor
NAL majority of the Commons.
Mr.. Balfou added that the cabinet
had not suffered from disunion and this
was followed with boots from the Irish
benches mingled with cries Of "Where is
Ritchie?" referring to g. 7. Richie,
former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who
was absent.
Continuing, the premier declared that
the only cause which would force Brit
ish government to resign is conclusive
defeat under all the circumstances of
previous notice and with every attending
incident to make it clear that the govern
ment no longer possessed the confidence
of the House.
This statement was greeted with an
outburst of applause from the members
of the ministerial party and they cheered
themselves hoarse in support of their
leader.
When order had been restored at the
conclusion of Premier Balfour's speech,
friendly discussion arose between the
Premier, John Redmond, leader of the
Irish members, and Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman, the liberal leader, with
Speaker Lowther, as to the best method
under which the House could proceed to
debate Mr. Balfour's statement. 1t was
finally agreed that the only way in which
this could be done was by committing
the Parliamentary paradox of having the
government move an adjournment, and
after the debate, letting the government
members vote against their own motion,
while the opposition would support it.
When this plan had finally been agreed
to, Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman
arose to open the debate. Immediately
the exodus from the chamber began, as
the crowd had lost interest in the pro-
ceedings and even many of the members
left the hall, as the excitement had died
out, aud the Irish members showed no
signs of attempting to create scene.