The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-16
ELOQUENCE MARKS
THE FINAL STAGE Of
THE HOME RULE BILL
BalfOur and Prime Minister
Mark Occasion by Bril-
liant Speeches
HOUSE CROWDED
TO IT'S CAPACITY
Balfour's Speech Rouses Supporters tc
Enthusiasm-Likens Present Con-
dition to That of American Col
0nies Before Revolution


London, January 15.-The home rule bill
started on its final stage in the house
of commons today, and the occasion was
marked by two speeches seldom excelled
in the house, by Prime Minister Herbert
II. Asquith and Mr.. Balfour, former
leader of the opposition, who have few
equals as parliamentarians
other speakers representing all parties,
followed and the debate finally was
adjourned until tomorrow. when division
will be taken.
Bitterness which previous bills of
similar nature aroused in the past was
largely absent in the discussion today,
but with the harder hitters on the pro
gramme for tomorrow this situation may
not be continued.
House Is Crowded
When the orders of the day were called
and Mr.. Balfour at the request of the
opposition leader. Andrew Bonar Law,
moved the rejection of the measure, the
house was crowded to its capacity and
every seat in the galleries was occupied
by interested listeners. Mr.. Balfour, who
has been absent from parliament for
prime minister, delivered. one of the
telling speeches for which he is famous
and which rouses his supporters to great
enthusiasm.
He dealt with the bill in general way,
and particularly laid stress on the case
of Ulster the present condition of which
he likened to that of the American colo
Eies before the revolution. He charged
the government with showing a danger
out want of appreciation of the position
of that section.
Pointing his finger at the government
bench Mr.. Balfour concluded:
IF blood be spilled-which God forbid
the real assassins will be those who
have never had the courage to face the
situation
Premier Defends Bill
Premier Asdrith defended the bill fronll
every standpoint. iss pleaded WITH the
house to forget the past and give Ire
land what the vast majority demanded.
lie laid stress on the safeguards intro
duced in the bill to prevent Protestants
from being oppressed by the majority.
and repeated the governments offer to
insert any other reasonable safeguards
was wanted.
The premier recalled that Mr.. Balfour
had made the same gloomy predictions
when the liberals gave self-government
TO south Africa.
The unionists and liberals continued
the debate until after dinner, when II. I,
o'Connor approved the bill in behalf of
the nationalists.
Thomas c. r. Agarh-Robartes, one of
the two liberals opposing the measure,
regretted the refusal of the government
TO hold out the olive branch to the Ulster
ties and denounced the bills as one of CO.
ercion. Unless the lister question was
settled, he said, the bill was foredoomed
to failure.
Bill Is Criticised
William OBrien. leader of the independ-
ent nationalists, criticised some of the
provisions of the bill and said that while
he could not accept ii as a final settle
ment of the nationalists' requirements
they regarded il as sincere and cour-
ageous measure of peace to ireland. He
suggested that if the former chief secre-
taries and under secretaries to Ireland and
three representative Irshmen, including
John f.. Redmond and Sir Edward Car
son, it is believed, got together, they might
come to some measure of agreement
Inc faDOflteS auneSl0n to home rule
was declared by James Parker sitting
Tor Halifax.
The Right Hon. Herbert Louis Samuel,
postmaster general, who had charge OF
the financial provisions of the bill, de-
Tended them at length.
The Rt. Hon. James Henry Campbell
serving as leader of the Ulsterites in the
absence of Sir Edward Carson, who. al
tohugh he fought the bill clause by clause.
was unable 70 be present at the final
rtage on account of his wifes illness, re-
1eated listers objection to home rule. and
declared the bill would produce a genera
lion of interneci1e strife and permanent
disaster to the progress of the country.
All the parties have issued special whips
TO members, requesting attendance for
tho division tomorrow night, when DEM
custrations are expected.
Supported by Majorities I.
Mr. Balfour said the government dur
lug the progress of the bill had been sup
so-ted by substantial majorities, but that
support was utterly worthless. 1t had
been obtained by a method reminding him
or one of those comedies of intrigue in
which the chief schemer went to each
subordinate character in turn and gave a
differsent version IF his object to each 20
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