_House of Commons, Monday Night, July 4._--Floor of House strewed with
crackers to-night, popping off unexpectedly as proceedings advanced.
Immediately after Questions, ARTHUR BALFOUR brought up to whipping-post.
For so clever a young man ARTHUR has made serious mistake. Gave
definite pledge upon certain clause of Coercion Bill, then omitted
to fulfil it, and finally, when challenged, wriggled about and
endeavoured to show that his remissness of no practical consequence.
House doesn't like wriggling. Nobody but HART-DYKE came to assistance of
beleaguered Minister, and _he_ was incontinently put down by SPEAKER.
HALLEY-STEWART, that child of victory, came in fresh from Spalding.
Greeted with thunderous cheers from Opposition who have plucked up
spirits wonderfully.
Old Morality, in his oldest and most moral manner, moved to appropriate
remaining time of House for Government business. Fire opened upon him
from all sides in protest against arrangement. Every man with a Bill
wanted day to bring it forward. CHAPLIN in most magnificent manner
joined in protest. SMITH having replied in detail seemed that the
incident was closed. But in fact was only beginning. SMITH had greatly
shocked GLADSTONE by incidentally alluding to Opposition as "entirely
unparalleled in annals of Parliament." GLADSTONE, recalling some scenes
between 1880 and 1885, raised his hands appealingly to 'igh 'eaven
against the statement. JOHN MORLEY dashed in with vigorous speech; then
GOSCHEN came to front, wringing his hands and working himself up to
height of desperation. GLADSTONE had declared that he and his friends
had not been charged with conniving at Obstruction.
"If the charge has not been made," said GOSCHEN, trying to edge himself
behind the plump figure of Old Morality, "it shall be made, and I make
it."
This brought up HARCOURT, who called GOSCHEN "a deserter." This did not
add to general amity of proceedings. Opposition cheered; Conservatives
howled; then, amid uproar, a voice was heard denouncing the conduct of
Members of the Government as "wanting in dignity and decorum." The voice
spoke more in sorrow than in anger. There was a tear in every syllable.
It was clear that, out of the fulness of a heart crushed with pain at
witnessing these unruly proceedings, the mouth spoke. The voice not
unfamiliar. All eyes turned to the quarter whence it proceeded. Who
could it be that thus added a final reproach to a guilty and trembling
Government? Who, in accents trembling with conviction and emotion,
convicted it of "lack of decorum and dignity?"
It was JOSEPH GILLIS!
_Business done._--Government secured all remaining days of Session.
_Tuesday Night._--"A bad Cass, a very bad Cass," murmured Old Morality,
moving uneasily on his seat. It was Seven o'clock. Things certainly
looking very bad. At Question-time, ATHERLY-JONES, who had been watching
the case for some time, asked the HOME SECRETARY whether he had made
inquiry into the Regent Street affair, and if so, what was the result?
HOME SECRETARY had, from the first, blundered hopelessly. When first
questioned peremptorily refused to interfere. Then CHAMBERLAIN
interposed and backed up claim for inquiry. MATTHEWS with ludicrous
haste knuckled down and gave desired promise. This was on Friday last.
Now went back from promise and declined to have anything to do with
affair. House evidently angry. ATHERLY-JONES moved adjournment;
supported by over a hundred, and debate entered upon. CAINE and DODDS
struggled for honour of seconding Motion. DODDS won. Seems Miss CASS'S
father is one of his constituents and a most respectable man.
[Illustration: "On the watch."]
"Why," cried Member for Stockton with sudden access of energy, "he leads
the brass band in the Malleable Iron Works."
That settled it. Thenceforward MATTHEWS regarded as a doomed man.
CHAMBERLAIN made speech conclusively showing innocence of Miss CASS. Not
only was her father leader of the brass band, but it was clear she had
not been out of the house on the nights the policeman swore he saw her
in Regent Street. ATTORNEY-GENERAL came to rescue of colleague, but
movement ineffectual. Old Morality uttered some ponderous commonplaces
without avail. CAINE, revelling in temporary freedom, lashed the HOME
SECRETARY. GRANDOLPH, that pink of chivalry, finding his old friend and
colleague down, joyously jumped on him.
"I made him Home Secretary, and when I kicked over the traces of course
I expected him to resign with me. But he stuck to office and salary. I
said nothing, but I thought the more. Waited for my chance, and here it
is."
So GRANDOLPH prodded MATTHEWS in the back, buffetted him about the head,
and made him begin to wish that he'd resigned long ago. Motion for
adjournment of House carried to a Division, and Government defeated by
Majority of Five!
"A bad Cass--a very bad Cass!" repeated Old Morality, as he picked up
his papers, and went off in unexpectedly good time for dinner.
_Business done._--The HOME SECRETARY'S.
_Wednesday._--HENRY MATTHEWS spent pleasant quarter of an hour this
afternoon. SMITH came down, and surrendered unconditionally in the CASS
case. Promised to make the inquiry which MATTHEWS had refused. JOHN
DILLON suggested that, in order to save time, Ministers should in future
make up their minds what to do before the Division was taken. MATTHEWS
said nothing. Rather sorry for him. Thought I'd cheer him up a bit.
"Don't take this too much to heart," I said. "Good deal of talk about it
just now, but soon be forgotten."
"Take what to heart?" he asked, with pretty air of surprise. "SMITH is
only confirming what I said when I promised an inquiry."
"But then you refused it afterwards."
"Exactly. So, if SMITH had come down and refused the inquiry, I would
still have been all right. Don't you see?"
I didn't, quite. Perhaps it will come on further reflection. _Business
done._--Supply.
_Thursday._--Came upon curious scene in Lobby this afternoon, just after
prayers. F. W. MACLEAN, Member for Woodstock Division of Oxfordshire,
standing at full length near the Post-Office. To him enter GRANDOLPH,
making for House, anxious to see how MATTHEWS is looking to-day.
MACLEAN, drawing himself up another inch, looked down on GRANDOLPH.
GRANDOLPH, seizing the situation, half turned round, and looked up at
his successor in the re-adjusted representation of Woodstock. Neither
spoke; but it was a pretty scene, not needing words.
[Illustration: Past and Present Members for Woodstock.]
GRANDOLPH found MATTHEWS on Treasury Bench, looking as if nothing had
happened, and as if nothing was going to happen. House curiously
crowded, considering. The old story over again, with just a difference
in enumeration of the chapter. Hitherto been on Coercion Bill, First
Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage, and Report Stage. Now Third
Reading moved. GLADSTONE begins it all over again, as if nothing had yet
been said. Benches filled to hear him, and no one moved till speech
ended in glowing peroration. Then Members, simultaneously struck with
conviction that they'd heard this before, streamed out. Rest of Sitting
dull talk and empty benches. _Business done._--Third Reading of Coercion
Bill moved.
_Friday._--Coercion Bill through at last! Final bout of talking dull
till towards end, when DILLON made one of his impassioned speeches
(wonderfully improved has JOHN since he first entered House). HARCOURT
stroked Ministerialist back wrong way; and GOSCHEN replied in animated
speech. One little flash disturbed monotony of earlier part of sitting.
Elderly young man, name of COLERIDGE, trotted out again the mean and
spiteful reference to Old Morality's Book-stall connection. O. M., for
once moved to anger, hotly resented impertinence.
Haven't we had enough of this now? It was TIM HEALY began it. Not
desirable that men without a tithe of TIM'S talent should imitate his
ingrained ill-manners.
_Business done._--Coercion Bill passed by Majority of 87.
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