The Washington herald., 1912-12-27

home rule question going to make mem
bers OF the British House OF Commons
lose their temper and dignity? And how
many more traitors" and "Judases" are
they going to discover? Judas was the
word which led to the memorable uproar
In the Commons July q, 1863, in compari-
son with which the affair of a few weeks
| ago. was but a mild outburst.
Mr.. Chamberlain was sneerlng at Glad
| stones home rule arguments when t. r.
IO'Connor shouted Judas" Then the up
roar began. Sir Edward Carson shouted
something at the Irish members, upon
which Mr.. Logan came over, taking the
seat next to him. Hayes Fisher prompt
Afrom the bench. Then there was battle
royal. and for three minutes the floor OF
the House was mass of surging. strug-
Cling, excited Legislators, many OF them
\ hitting out right and left. The members
were brought TO their senses by Kisses,
| loud and sustained, from the astonlshed
| spectators in the galleries, and when they
came to count their losses one member
discovered that one of his eyes had been
! temporarily put out of commission. and
another complained that a colleague had
attempted to pull his nose.
After a shaking Of hands, in token OF
reconciliation, and mutual explanation, a
witty and poetical member Of the House
| Of Commons wrote the following:
Says Fisher, Yes, knocked him down.
can't say l was Joking;
But in defen1e I'm bound 10 say
His manner provoking"
says Logan. True. l sauatted down
thought the seat Woul ht me;
But Fisher thought twas not the case.
And that was why he hit me.
SAYS Gladstone. Now I seem to see
How these cOntentionX started;
Fisher and Logan seemed 10 me
True men and nOble-hearted."
Says Bslfour. MY views just the same;
These men arc ETand-whO'l doubt M
We've all a little been to blame;
Let's say no more about it."
The Speaker then, with words of weight.
Said. Let not these things distress you;
Although the scandal has been great.
III merely say. God bless your"
In 1881 no fewer than thirty-sIx Irish
members including Mr.. Parnell and Mr.
Justin Mccarthy, \were suspended. after
scenes of Understandable uproar during a
debate on the Coercion Bill. and in the
year following twenty-five members from
the other side of st. Georges Channel
were relieved from attendance for wiIful
obstruction
1t was on this oCCs sion that the Irish
members refused to go into the Hobbies
for a division. They were named, and
their suspension was moved and carried !;
still the Irishmen refused to bulge an
inch until squad of police walked into
the hall. Even then il was as much as
the guardians OF the peace could do to
move them on. AS a matter OF history
the nO1iHp and tho Irish rNnTDhgTg had a
regular FIST fight before the former con-
quered and bodily carried the Irishmcn
out of the House.
The recent scene recalls that OF July
of last year, when for the first time
within the memory Of the oldest MEM
bers thS prime minister was shouted
down. The occasion was the discussion
of the veto bill. when the opposition
refused, as they did the other day, to
allow any speeches to be made. On that
occasion, too, the word traitor was
hurled at the prime minister, and ulti-
mately business had to be stopped and
the House adjourned.
Fortunately for the dignity OF the
British Parliament. however, much as
the passions OF members may rise. they
never forget the respect which Is due
to the speaker. and he only has to rise
to quiet the House This is by no means
the case in other Parliaments. and in
September Of last year Mr.. Willis. the
Speaker of the Sidney (Australia) Par
lament, was bombarded with books be
cause he had ordered the removal Of
certain member. The execution Of the
order was frustrated by the resistance
offered by other members, and finally
the police had to be sent for before the
turbulent solOns Gained down.
The unenviabla distinction OF being the
worlds rowdiest Assembly belongs TO the
Austrian ReiChsrath. where free-for-all
fights in the Hobbies are quite common
occurrence Members come to blows al