The Duke of Richmond has kept his word. On Monday,
during a debate which we have analysed elsewhere, he introduced, and carried by 83 to 67, amendments intended to make secrecy optional with the voter, thus reducing the Ballot Bill to a mere sham. As it is quite certain that the House of Commons will not endure these amendments, and as certain that the Duke does not intend to compel a dissolution on such a point—thus undoing the whole "reaction "—the Liberal Peers got irritable with the needless trouble forced upon them, and for half an hour there was quite a lively row in the stately House, till Lord Clanricarde asked the Clerk to read the Standing Order against "taxing speeches," speeches imputing motives. The only other amendments of grave importance were one by the Duke making it possible for a Judge to follow a corrupt vote, which will probably be carried, and one by Lord Beauchamp, making the Act operative only till 1880, which ought to be. Darkness is useful in many diseases, but why secure it by putting out patients' eyes ? Shutters will do, and the doctors can keep them up as long as they like.
Previous page
