The debate on Thursday was not very important. Mr. Balfour
threw off the authority of his leader, Lord Randolph Churchill, and declared for Mr. Gibson's amendment. Mr.. Labouchere declared that the Democracy did not want dis- cussion, except on subjects on which the constituencies had not made up their minds. Mr. Parnell followed Lord Randolph in the view that Closure by a two-thirds majority would be a weapon more dangerous to the Irish party than closure by a simple majority, and carried his party (with the exception of Mr. O'Donnell, who had spoken the other way, and did not vote), into the Liberal lobby. Sir Stafford Northcote assailed Lord Randolph Churchill for his sublime superiority to all Puha, mentary ties, and then, softening his tone, told him how much he was comforted by his promise to vote with his leader against the Closure in any form. And Lord Hartington concluded the debate with a very vigorous repudiation of Mr. Labouchere's views, declaring that whatever the Democrats might wish,— which he did not know,—the Liberals desired no measure to pass. through Parliament without full discussion ; and with a striking demonstration of the danger of giving a veto on the Closure to a perfectly irresponsible person like the leader of Opposition, who could hardly help consulting his own party as to the terms on which he should consent to grant it, and so introducing all sorts of objectionable negotiations. The majority against the amendment was 84 (322 against 238).
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