On Tuesday, when the debate was continued, the Bishop of
St. Asaph repudiated the history of the Lord Chan- cellor, and showed that the Church in Wales had never been backward in educational work. Lord Lansdowne, after reviewing the whole question, said that it was com- plained that the Opposition asked for two general elections —one on Home Rule and another on the Welsh Bill. He admitted that a single general election—and, of course, there could be only one—might be inconclusive on. both ques- tions. But the Opposition were perfectly willing to have both Bills referred to a poll of the people and to accept the result. " We may be politicians," he said, " but we are men of honour, and when we say we will abide by the result of an appeal to the country, I believe most people will know that we mean what we say." Critics said that the Opposition might do more to " save something from the wreck " by distinguishing between disestablishment and disendowment. His answer was that if the Bill becomes law " the time will come when the Opposition will have to put that injustice right." Lord Beauchamp wound up the debate for the Government, and the second reading was then rejected by a majority of 242 votes to 48.
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