Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-08-09
BRITISH COMMONS
l IN ! ! |. As'QunH
Motion to Censure, Government
r. Is Defeated.
VOTE STANDS 365 TO 246
BaIfour, the Opposition Leader, and
Prime Minister Mako Long
Speeches Before Many Not
abIes in Gallery,

London, Aug. 8.-The house Of com.
mons was crowded to- the doors when
Arthur ]. Balfour arose to move his
vote of censure on the government
Many notables crowded together in
the strangers gallery to, hear the
words of the opposition leader in his
condemnation of the government for
securing the kings pledg, to create
sufficient number Of new peers to
pass the veto bill through the house
OF lords. Among those in the gallery
was Ambassador Whitelaw Reid.
The visitors saw the house kill the.
proposal by a vote OF 365 to 246, and.
its defeat is regarded as having failed
to improve the unionist cause.
The gravamen: Of the ,opposition's
charge against the government was
that Premier Asqnith had taken ,ad-i
vantage Of the kings inexpefience by
securing the guarantees before the last
general election. Mr.. Asqaith easily
disposed Of this charge by showing
that the ministers had pursued an EN-
tirely proper constitutional course.
Balfour Attacks Ministers.
Mr.. Balfour emphasized that he was
conscious of the gravity of the; situa.
ton and the seriousness Of the step
which he asked the. house to take. ~
The minister's" said Mr. Halfour,
''have grossly abused their rights Of
advising the crown. and by abusing
those rights put themselves above the
constitution. They have acted wholly
without precedent. not In order to
meet any great question Of state. but
in order to further a party arrange.
ment between different sections who
support them and in orGar to prevent
the people Of the country from pro-
| nouncing their opinion on home rule"
The unionist leader asserted that
the ministry had placed the sovereign
who had Just come to the throne in a
cruel position. The king was fount
of honor, but the government by their
advice had poisoned and corrupted the
stream at its source. He dubbed the
proposed new peers 'supers in this
sordid drama"
Calls Plan UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Mr.. Balfour declared there was not
the slightest justification for the crea
ton OF peers to enable the govern,
ment to carry it through both houses
without reference to the people. Il
was contrary to all opinions of consti
tutional legislative chambers to put
both chambers in the hands of the
| executive to manipulate as they liked,
and it was. wholly unconstitutional
| method of dealing with deadlocks' for
the prime minister to advise the king
to pack the upper house with hired
voters.
Premier Asquith appeared in his
best form when he stood up to reply.
Jeeringly he thanked Mr.. Balfourr for
this opportune, though unexpected
| motion"
In a few sentences the prime minis,
ter dispelled the fog by which the cir
cumstances under which he had OBJ
tanned the guarantees from the king
had been persistently obscured by the
opposition. ,a
Asquith Defends Course.
1T was my strong hope and belief"
he said, that the lords would accept
| the bill, and only when that hope was
frustrated, as it was last month, was
his majesty asked and consented, ii
it was necessary. to exercise his pre-
! rogative. We took the only course
consistent with honor and true re
gard for the dignity. Of the crown,
| The course was correct, considerable
and constitutional. and in my own
name and in those of my colleagues
am perfectly content to accept the
decision of the house ard OF my fe
low countrymen in regard thereto