New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-21
THE LORDS DEBATE
Great Figures-Comic BypIay
"A Hunting Squire.
London. August 4,

| ley for once had the foremost place, after
career in which ne had consistently
sacrificed himself to the ambitions and
policies OF colleagues. II Mr.. Gladstone
on retiring from public life could havs
named his successor the late Lord Spen-
GER would have been Prime Minister,
with Honest John" Morley as chief
lieutenant. When the Liberal party was
rent with dissensions after the downfall
OF the Rosebery government Mr.. Morley
was Sir william Harcourt's most infu-
entail supporter. and he waived h!s
claims to the Treasury in Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman's Cabinet and found
refuge In the India Office. After all
these sacrifices. made in a submissive
spirit Of self-effacement. Lord Morley
was the leader in the final assault upon
the stronghold of privilege. and with
phlosophic gravity and nobility OF char
acter he lowered with epcal dignity
among friends and foes His declaration
that royal consent had been obtained for
the creation Of an unlimited number Of
peers marked the eliminating moment q
the struggle for mending or ending the
Lords. IL was delivered without menac-
ing gesture or exasperating tone, and
was accompanied BY an emphatic asser-
ton that ministers had no reason what
ever to be ashamed OF anything In their
relations TO the sovereign, TO Parliament
or to the country.
The pale faced man Of letters was
great figure in the historic scene. and
so was his chief opponent. Lord Hals-
bury. lighting at fourscore with the I'M
netuous ardor Of youth and making a
strenuous stand for principle with the
nroud consciousness that he was doing
his duty and leaving the final decision
Of the rightness or wrongness OF II 70
higher tribunal" II he had been
Younger he might have been suspected
Of ambition In heading revolt against
party leaders, but as 1t was his sincer-
ity and highminded motives could not "a
challenged by the most censorious critic.
Lord Lansdowne's defence Of the action
of the main body of Unlonist peers was
a masterpiece OF persuasive exposition.
delivered with distinction OF manner and
q patrician air Of aloofness from the
ordinary levels Of democratic thought
II was unmatched in the debate Tor
closeness OF reasoning and lucidity %
thought and was an unanswerable wins
dication Of his right to lead his party
in the upper house. Lord ST AldWyn
was also at his best In the debate,
Finally, Lord Rosebery's fervor as an
orator. knowledge OF constitutional Mss
tory. detachment from partisan considt %
erations and fine play of humor werd
splenddly illustrated in his brilliane
speech which carried many doubtful
cross benchers and prelates with hims
and for once he did not depend UPON
flashing epigrams and theatrical poses
but voted courageously in deliberate
choice of evils. Il,
Hot weather politics would be unhear4
able without touches of humor. Inv
best joke Of the crisis has been picJ
torial one I'm "Punch"--one OF Mr.. Beri
nard Partridge's most delightful caro-
toons. portraying Lord Halsbury as \
sort OF Wellington" mounted on a fierd
charger and bursting with military tag3
as he exclaims up. Lords. aud y
'em" A skeptical peer with coronee
on his head asks quizzicaly, AT whom?f
The veteran, with grand flourish OF s"ords
answers sharply: Well | want TO damt
| age the government for choice; but anyt
how damage somebody" There coula
hardly be a more effective summary OF
the political situation with the "Die1
Hards." Quixotic raid against LORD
Lansdowne and Mr.. Balfour than tina
clever bit OF satire. The closest approach
to IL has been Lord Newtons ludicrous
reference TO the Chinese practice OF pun|
ishing an offender by going and commits
ting suicide upon his doorstep. This novel
| Illustration of the "ditchers methoi
of annoying their opponents and redress
ing the grievances OF the Unionist peers
was received with loud outlaws OF laugh"
ter on both sides of the gilded chamoer'
Lord Newton's humor lacks the literary
finish of Lord Rosebery's polished pleas"
antry. but il is we'll sailed with common
sense.
There was grotesque scene When
| Lord Salisbury, with voice keyed hlsS
and with menacing finger directed
against Lord Morley, demanded a PLAN
answer to the question whether peers
would be created In large numbers OF
not. Lord Morley seemed asleep, but IN
moment he was on his feet and. after
theatrical pause. scornfully declined 10
answer so rash and juvenile state@
ment" The lords on both sides OF the
House laughed heartily over this stng'
ing rebuke from a highminded states
man of character. and Lord SALISBURY
| Gid not improve his position when he
added in a jocUlar tone that men APP
preaching middle life liked to he called
Juvenile Lord Ribblesdale's jokes were
nj halter quality and we're delivered with
dry humor and an air OF detachmehs
! from the ordinary wiles OF funny men
Among them were his warning that
was time for the peers 10 beat ois
nified but determined retreat, MS co""
eratulations to Lord Halsburys 'olioN-
ers on being masters OF incompetence
souls with very slight damage 10 'i's'
| bodies and his forecast that the Union
| lists with dear food round their he0Ns
and the House OF Lords on their baoAs'
could not win general election ZOE
some time TO come. Lord st. Aldwyh -
q trerchsnt debater. but not a Wit, ana