We have said, perhaps, enough of Tuesday's debate else- where.
Mr. Campbell-Bannerman made a great effort to state the Parnellite case in a moderate and impressive way ; but Mr. Balfour's answer, much of which we have quoted, com- pletely disposes of his contention, which is substantially that the Parnellites pacified the disturbed districts, and were punished for doing it. Sir H. James made a speech of great vigour, the substance of which is that Mr. Parnell himself de- clares Ireland to be tranquil; that, consequently, the "game of law and order" is not " up," as Sir G. Trevelyan once declared it was ; and that this incalculable improvement is due to the pre- sent administration. He made a crushing attack on boycotting, and remarked with sardonic humour, of Mr. Parnell's defence, that he sometimes thought the Member for Cork "did not know what was passing in Ireland." Mr. Morley replied to him in a speech which was in essence an allegation of tyranny against the Government, in packing juries and dismissing Boards, and in a general policy of exasperation. Then the divi- sion was taken, and showed 307 Members for the Government, and 240 for the Opposition. The total is not unusually large, but there were many pairs, and many absent from sickness.
Previous page
