We are glad to note that Mr. Asquith, who wound
up the debate, took off the gloves and dealt blow after blow at the Government. "I assert in all seriousness and with all deliberation that this amendment of the Prime Minister's is an affront to the House of Commons. It is an act of nothing less than arrogance for any Minister—I do not care who he is—to come down here and propose that this House should by its own declaration disable itself for the whole term of its natural life from taking any cognisance of that which has become an issue of paramount importance to this country and the Empire." On the division being taken, Mr. Black's Motion was defeated by 5i votes (306 to 251). All the Free-trade Unionists who really want to defeat Protection voted against the Government. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Mr. Hayes Fisher, Sir Edgar Vincent, and two others voted in the same lobby as Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Chaplin, and Mr. Balfour.
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