The discussion was continued by Mr. Balfour, whose speech was
received with loud cheers from the Government's sup- porters, and was later described by Mr. Asquith as " one of the finest vindications of the representative and independent character of the House of Commons ever made in this House.; Mr. Balfour pointed out that it was clear that Lord Hugh Cecil was attacking the whole system, and not merely a par- ticular party. He himself thought it a superficial view that the House was deteriorating, and could not think that " the Whips of either party, wicked and unscrupulous as no doubt they are, are more unscrupulous and more wicked in 1911 than they were in 1874." The party system was necessary to insure that a Government brought into existence by the will of the people shall not, like a leaf, be driven about at the gust of every breath of wind.
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