Lord Crewe in his reply on behalf of the Government
drew a tragic picture of the position of members of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords. Now that the Liberals were in power, the Opposition " still took complete charge of the Government measures sent up to the House of Lords." For many years past the two Houses had jogged along together as acquaintances, "but after that night they would hardly be on speaking terms." He concluded by informing the House that their action would force the Government to obtain "guarantees, fenced about and guarded by the force of statute, that might prevent that indiscriminate destruction of legislation of which their work to-night was the climax and crown." The speech of Lord Crewe closed the debate. In the subsequent division three hundred and fifty Peers voted in favour of Lord Lansdowne's amendment and seventy-five against it. The amendment was therefore carried by a majority of 275 votes.
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