8 FEBRUARY 1902, Page 3

We greatly regret that when the question of the unfair

opposition to the Bill was raised in the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Balfour, though regretting what took place refused to give the Bill special facilities because of the bad precedent. He also refused to act on the ground that he thould in any case have opposed a Bill of so controversial a character going to a Grand Committee. That argument may be sound against the Bill going before a Grand Committee, but it is not sound in regard to the point which moves us chiefly in the matter,—namely, that tactics so discreditable as those used to oppose this Bill should be allowed not only to go unpunished but to succeed. That is the point which we feel must not be forgotten in considering the incident of Wednesday.