The discussion on Thursday night was as dreary as possible,.
Lord Sandon contributing to the debate the only successful point on that side,—we mean the statement that in 1880 and 1881 the Liberals had wasted a great deal more of the time of the House, and required more "compression," than either the Home-rulers or the Conservatives. According to Lord Sandon, in 1880 the Conservatives had spoken 2,080 columns of "Han- sard ;" the Home-rulers, 1,540 columns ; and the Liberals, 4,170 columns. In 1881 the Conservatives had spoken 3,280 columns of "Hansard ;" the Home-rulers, 4,400 columns ; and the Liberals, 6,300 columns. We should like to have that statement verified by an impartial authority, and the principle of classification as between the parties explained. Clearly, the Home-rulers have been the obstructives, after all, since, being a minute minority, they spoke more than the great Conservative Party in 1881, and but little less in J880; but in any case, the. same proportion of long-windedness would not apply to 1882,—. a Session during which the Liberals have been repeatedly re- proached by the Conservatives with holding their tongues so persistently, as to make the Conservatives ashamed of their lengthy speech.
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