The Prime Minister has been obliged to ask the House
of Commons to permit the Closure by compartments of the dis- cussion in Committee of the Education Bill. It has lasted thirty-eight nights, everything has been said, or might have been said, that is worth saying, and it concerns the Republic that there be an end of talk. The House is of the same opinion, and on Tuesday the Resolution making that opinion executive was carried by the heavy majority of 119. The debate was for the most part perfunctory, though we are delighted to perceive that Mr. Chamberlain energetically repudiated Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's unconstitutional doctrine that the House had no right to pass the Bill because it had not been promised at the General Election. The House is really greatly relieved by the acceptance of Mr. Balfour's Motion, and the country will, we believe, share the feeling of the House. The Education Bill may at the next Election cost the Unionist party some votes, though much of the apparent feeling against it has been caused by the sense felt by the Opposition that on this subject alone could they act as a united body; but the loss will not be increased by the application of the Closure. The electors have common-sense, and are sick of the waste of time.
Previous page
