Nothing teaches like responsibility. The Tories did not like the
Closure while the Liberals were in power ; but six weeks of debate, with the Parnellites obstructing business, have made them hearty converts. Lord Salisbury, speaking at St. Albans on Wednesday to a new county club, made it a principal topic of his speech that if representative govern- ment was to go on, the torture to which Members of Parliament were now subjected must be made to cease. Members of Parlia- ment were worse situated than convicts. In thus speaking, the Premier evidently expressed a formed decision, for on the same evening, the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the House of Commons that the Government would next Session make it their first business to propose improvements in the methods of transacting business. They will be wise. They appear to fear Liberal resistance ; but if they will only make the new rules drastic enough, and introduce expulsion as the penalty for any resistance to the Speaker, they need not fear opposition. They have only to dissolve, and no English or Scotch Member- who resists their proposals will be again returned. The common voter is utterly sick of obstruction in all its forms, and of the cowardice which prevents successive Governments from dealing with it. The "average elector" is a sterner person than the new Radicals, who are all flabbiness and philanthropic feeling, yet understand.
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