The two now disciplinary rules of the House of Commons
are dead, for they have become ridiculous. They have missed the trio on the second bench below the gangway, and have transfixed Mr. Whalley. The Member for Peterborough, rushing in where Members with wiser heads feared to tread, wanted to put an Orangeman's question to the Government about their disposition towards Russia and the Papacy. Though twice called to order, he persisted in proceeding ; and in accordance with the new rules, he was suspended for the .rest of the debate, the House treating its first application of the new regimen as a joke. There was no debate going on when Mr. Whalley transgressed, and the consequence was that very soon he returned to the House, and, two hours later he was on his feet fulminating against Dr. Kenealy, the Papacy, and the Government, and uttering the very senti- ments on account of which he was suspended. The most sur- prising fact is that Mr. Whalley apparently was in the right, and the Speaker in the wrong. By the wretched rule, the former, before actual suspension, was entitled to be heard, with no restric- tion as to length ; and the refusal to hear him was an oversight on the part of Mr. Brand, who must look to his laurels.
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