The third reading of the Franchise Bill was carried on
Thursday afternoon without a division, after a very impressive speech from Mr. Gladstone on the threats so ostentatiously published that the Lords will throw out the Bill. His text was Polonius's warning :—
"Beware Of entrance to a quarrel ; but being in, Bear 't that th' opposed may beware of thee."
He showed how anxious the Government had been to satisfy every reasonable demand of the Conservatives, in order that they might give no excuse for a quarrel with the Lords ; and he warned the country that a conflict between the two Houses on this subject would probably be far the most serious thing which had occurred since the abolition of the Corn Laws. Sir Stafford Northcote called this speech" theatrical," described it as threatening the Lords, and declared that the Lords had a full right .to throw out this incomplete measure, since it might be so completed as to embody the ideas of universal suffrage, equal electoral districts, and payment of Members. He even maintained that Mr. Gladstone's illustration from the stability of the American Government, pointed directly to universal suffrage. Mr. Geschen then pointed out that the Con- servatives had virtually accepted a household franchise in the counties ; and said that he had made his last speech against it, but that he should now do his best to make the Redistribution Bill a sound and safe one. After a few other speeches, amongst which there was none from Lord Randolph Churchill,—who tried to take Sir Stafford Northcote's place in answering Mr. Gladstone, but.was not allowed to do so,—the third reading was agreed to, and the Bill sent up to the Lords.
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