_House of Commons, Monday Night, November 20._--Rumour current
to-night that Ballykilbeg is in the market. Ballykilbeg is the
manorial seat of one of the most ancient and honourable Irish
families, long settled in County Down. The O'HNSTONS were in the train
of BORRHOIMI when he first essayed, and succeeded in, the difficult
task of forming a United Ireland. JAKE O'HNSTON is a name that lingers
lovingly in tradition of Youngest Ireland. Gradually, being always on
the people's lips, it began to take a new form. J. O'HNSTON naturally
became JOHNSTON; but Ballykilbeg was always there. To-day House of
Commons contains no more esteemed Member than he who is known as
JOHNSTON of Ballykilbeg. A man of war breathing battle, ever ready
to take his place amongst the corpses in the last ditch, JOHNSTON of
Ballykilbeg off the platform in Ulster, or off his legs in House of
Commons, is the mildest-mannered man that ever proposed to broil a
brother for conscience' sake.
Quite a sensation at prospect of dissevering JOHNSTON from
Ballykilbeg. Glad to hear there's nothing, or little, in it.
Arises out of circumstance that JOHNSTON has approached Mr. G. with
suggestion that Treasury shall purchase an estate in Ireland, and
there plant out the Duke of YORK. If the Duke, making a survey of
Ireland, should find no more attractive place than Ballykilbeg,
the descendant of the O'HNSTONS is not the man to allow personal
predilections or old associations to stand in the way of gratification
of Royal desire. It might come to pass that the Crowned Heads of
Europe would welcome at their courts YORK of Ballykilbeg, whilst the
last of the O'HNSTONS would be content to house his loyal head under
alien roof. That, however, not a prospect in view when he moved in the
matter. There is surely room between the seas that circle Ireland for
the Duke of YORK and JOHNSTON still at Ballykilbeg.
[Illustration: Johnson of Ballykilbeg escorting the Duke of York.]
_Business done._--Clause I. added to Parish Councils Bill.
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[Illustration: LIKA JOKO'S JOTTINGS.--No. 5. HUNTING.]
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_Tuesday_.--Parish Councils on again. That was order of day, but human
ingenuity dragged in other matters. First Woman's Suffrage, on which
there was livelier debate than has yet arisen in Committee on this
Bill. Last Thursday WALTER M'LAREN raised question in form of
an Instruction. Government resisting were beaten, the Opposition
coalescing with revolting Radicals. Now, as SQUIRE OF MALWOOD puts
it, the Government, kissing the rod, accept injunction; undertake to
embody M'LAREN'S Amendment in Bill. Pretty to see air of doubt and
hesitation that hereupon comes over ingenuous faces on Opposition
benches. If HENRY FOWLER had put his back up, declared that Woman
delighted him not, nor WALTER M'LAREN either, Opposition would again
have joined forces with Radicals, and Government would once more have
suffered defeat. Since they resolved to obey Instruction carried by
majority last Thursday, PRINCE ARTHUR shakes his head; EDWARD STANHOPE
shows this is quite another pair of sleeves; whilst JOSEPH, back
bronzed from breezy Bahamas, bluntly says he will oppose new Clause
HENRY FOWLER has promised to bring in.
"It is the duty of an Opposition to oppose," says PRINCE ARTHUR; "and
I did not for several Sessions sit at feet of OLD MORALITY without
being impressed with imperative sense of duty."
[Illustration: Mr. Courtney explains the Puzzle.]
Later, when this difficulty temporarily out of way and it seemed
progress with Clause might be made. Proportional Representation was
dragged in neck and crop. COURTNEY took charge of the puzzle business,
and tried to explain it. No prizes offered, and attention a little
slack. SQUIRE OF MALWOOD defined the theory in admirable phrase. "It
is," he said, "an ingenious system by which a man is to vote for
a person he does not prefer in order to secure a majority for some
purpose he does not understand." Can't better that; leaves nothing
else to say. Nevertheless, much was said; talked by the hour; finally
a division, in which Government majority, rarely falling below three
score and ten, stood at 72.
_Business done._--Something of the debating society order.
_Thursday night._--Things coming to a pretty pass if TOMLINSON is not
to offer a few observations on third reading of Employers' Liability
Bill without an arrogant Minister moving the Closure. Apart from
consideration of individual liberty and freedom of speech, House would
have suffered special disappointment if SPEAKER had accepted ASQUITH'S
suggestion and submitted question of Closure. Finding TOMLINSON on
his feet at this juncture it naturally thought he had, in interval,
discovered what his amendments moved last week in Committee on Bill
meant, and was seizing this opportunity of explaining them. He didn't;
but that was all ASQUITH'S fault. Enough to cow any man rising at
ten minutes to twelve and having pistol held to his head in shape of
motion for the Closure.
Just at the time when TOMLINSON was coming to his explanation, hand of
clock touched five minutes to twelve. He might still have used up
at least four minutes; being flurried, he sat down; and now we shall
never know what his amendments were designed to accomplish. Happily
there was time left for MATTHEWS to soundly rate ASQUITH for his
attempt to Closure TOMLINSON. Right hon. gentleman could scarcely
control his tongue in the emotion under which he laboured, in
contemplation of the attempted outrage. It would have been bad enough
with an ordinary member. That the weighty and sententious speech of so
eminent a statesman as the Member for Preston should have been broken
in upon by a motion for the Closure only showed, in the ex-Home
Secretary's opinion, how bad was the case of the Government, how
reckless the tactics to which desperation drove them. A beautiful
speech; almost, as TOMLINSON says, worth being snubbed by ASQUITH in
order to elicit this eloquent testimony to modest merit.
_Business done._--Employers' Liability Bill read a third time.
_Friday Night._--Great advantage of habit of foreign travel ingrained
with Members of Commons is that when erudite question comes up sure
to be someone present who can illustrate its bearings from experience
gained in more or less remote portions of the planet. Just now HENRY
FOWLER moved provision in Parish Councils Bill, making it possible for
Lovely Woman, whether married or single, to stoop to folly of being
elected on Parish Council Board. Up jumps HORACE PLUNKETT with some
charming reminiscences brightly told of residence in the State of
Wyoming. In that happy land women enjoy equal political and municipal
privileges with their brother men.
"I was," said PLUNKETT, "well acquainted with a female Justice of the
Peace. She discharged her duties, and, when necessary, a revolver."
Another of PLUNKETT'S lady friends in far-off Wyoming had her domestic
duties broken in upon by summons to attend a jury. Case proved
protracted; husband had to stay at home and mind the baby, whilst she
was locked up all-night with eleven good men and true.
After hearing this, Committee unanimously, without division being
challenged, agreed to FOWLER'S Amendment.
_Business done._--On Clause III. Parish Council Bill.
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