On Tuesday, Sir William Harcourt proposed a series of resolutions
for the purpose of closuring the Evicted Tenants Bill,—Committee, Report, third reading, and all,—within seven days, which he did without any attempt at argument or apology, though expressing his reluctance to take these peremptory steps, and his willingness to forego them if he could have any assurance that the Opposition would be inclined to assign fair limits to the discussion of the Bill. But as the Government regarded the Evicted Tenants Bill as one "of urgent necessity," and as "an administrative measure conducing to peace and good-will in Ireland," they had no choice, he declared, but to take the proper steps for keeping its discussion within reasonable limits. Mr. Balfour protested against the application of the gag with extreme warmth. Nothing like this bad ever been known after the second day in Committee on a Bill of this very great importance; but to speak of a Bill as one of the utmost urgency, which the Government had waited, after their accession to office, two whole years to propose, was monstrous, especially considering how many measures they were leaving undealt with, which they had brought forward earlier, and carried through their early stages. By this gagging motion, they were taking the most effective steps to secure the rejection of the Bill in another place, and yet they professed to be obliged to apply the gag in order to hasten its passage, not to hasten its rejection. Mr. Balfour declared that be would take no part in this "sorry farce." If the gag was applied, he should retire from the discussion. "Make the honour, the traditions, the dignity of this House, the counters in the sorry game you are playing for Irish support, but do not ask me to take a hand."
