Lord Sheffield, speaking against the Bill later in the evening,
said it was the maddest recklessness to try to convert the responsible and deliberative Government of this country into a mere plebiscitary government, to be sluggish in quiet times and revolutionary in excited times. Lord Weardale said that he desired to express the advanced Liberal opi nion,which believed that the introduction of the Referendum in a limited form in connection with the settlement of Constitutional difficulties would be to the advantage of the democracy. Deep in the minds of the people there was a distinct desire to preserve their right to say the last word on all matters affecting their welfare. At the close of the debate, Lord Balfour of Burleigh agreed to an indefinite adjournment, but hoped that the House would eventually resume the discussion. The question was extremely complex, and on that account it was important to get to the Committee Stage. We most heartily endorse this statement, and we may point out that in our leading columns a suggestion is made as to a possible means of avoiding unnecesary delay.
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