The debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday was
chiefly remarkable for the defeat of• the Government by a majority of 11 (141 votes to 130) on a Motion by Mr. J. Red- mond to reduce a vote for the teaching of Irish in the Supple- mentary Estimates. Such a snap division means, of course, very little (though we may note that it is the first time for nine years that a Government has been defeated in Supply), and Mr. Balfour was, no doubt, justified in disregarding it. Still, it is an exceedingly bad thing to happen to a Govern- ment, for, besides lowering its prestige, it must tend to the weakening of that party solidarity which a Government should be able to count on. It is a signal for a general slackness. When the Whips in future, endeavouring to secure a strong vote, hold up the awful possibility of the Government being put in a minority, they will be met with the answer : "What does it matter supposing we are defeated? The Government will go on just the same. Look at what happened the 'other day." A Whip's chief argument is the danger of defeat, and events such as Tuesday's division go far to deprive it of any real force. Besides, omens still count for something in politics; and Members remember that snap-vote minorities are almost always followed by real minorities.
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