Mr. Gladstone said he believed the Home-rule Bill would reappear
next Session ; and as the Irish will take care that it does, his hope is probably justified. They are not going to run the risk of his retirement, and the consequent disap- pearance of the Home-rule cry from English politics. As, however, the Bill would take up the whole Session once more, the Gladstonians are considering ways for sending it up to the Lords without debate. Many declare it will be introduced in the Lords ; but we fancy the finance clauses interfere with that plan, and the idea of tacking it to the Appropriation Bill would only give excuse for a large secession. The Daily Chronicle says it ought to be sent up to the Lords by resolution ; but the Lords are not bound to pay attention to resolutions of the House of Commons. The only way to hurry the Bill would be to suspend the Standing Orders and pass it in one night; but that, besides inflaming all discontents in the House of Commons, would justify the Lords in throwing out any Bill. The only practicable method is to use the Closure more freely, and so greatly develop .the suspicion already felt in the constituencies. No one talks of a great creation of Peers, knowing that the moment they were created they would recover their independence, and being independent, would vote against the Bill.
Previous page
