_House of Commons, Monday, November 6._--PRINCE ARTHUR in fine
form to-night; made one of those speeches that distinctly enhance
Parliamentary reputation. Ticklish situation for Leader of Opposition
in face of Parish Councils Bill. Won't do, with General Election
within measurable distance, to declare plump against it; still
less will it suit party to support one of principal measures of a
Government whose successive steps, however devious, are all bent upon
goal of Home Rule. For two nights men rising from Opposition benches
have endeavoured to wriggle through this difficulty; been more or less
unsuccessful; PRINCE ARTHUR, with sure aim and light touch, does and
says exactly right thing.
By all means let HODGE have a voice in direction of his own affairs;
his best friend, the party who spent themselves in his behalf in
Corn-Law days, who acted in his best interests whenever question
of political enfranchisement or his relations to parson and squire
cropped up--the great Tory party would be the very last to slacken
effort for his prosperity. So anxious are they on the score, they
would not imperil opportunity by throwing out this Bill on the
Second Reading. But PRINCE ARTHUR showed, in little asides, that this
particular measure is badly conceived, not nearly so good as what
would have befallen HODGE had a Unionist Ministry been in office. For
an hour the PRINCE spoke, displaying perfect mastery of the subject,
managing, without assuming a hostile attitude, to bestow upon the
measure some damaging blows.
[Illustration: LIKA JOKO'S JOTTINGS.--No. 4. SCENES IN THE CITY.]
First time since House met Mr. G. began to show that keen interest in
proceedings which he seemed to have reserved for Home Rule Bill. Sat
listening intently with hand to ear as PRINCE ARTHUR gracefully glided
on from point to point. Pretty little sparring match when PRINCE
ARTHUR endeavoured to draw him into doing something damaging, either
in the way of reticence or declaration, touching GEORGE RUSSELL'S
explosive speech on Friday night. "I would not," observed PRINCE
ARTHUR, "have said so much, but I presume that in this matter the hon.
gentleman represented the Government of which he is a member." Mr. G.
shook his head. "Then he disclaims it?" Mr. G. shook his head
again. "Oh, then, though he does not dissociate himself from the
Under-secretary of India, he does not associate the Government with
his remarks?" Mr. G. again shook his head, finally explaining that his
young friend and colleague had merely revived former custom--existing
"in my early days"--whereby Ministers not in the Cabinet and not
connected with department specially concerned in matter at issue,
might enter at large into general debate.
"Here, here!" said ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Knight), for once in
agreement with the views of Arch Enemy.
[Illustration: T. H. Napoleon Boltonparty "objected to ladies being
Justices of the Peace."
_Justice Herself._ "Aha! Show me the man who said that!"]
_Business done._--More debate on Parish Councils Bill. As usual,
adjourned at midnight. Motion made that House forthwith adjourn,
OLIVER ROLLIT asks for more. Too early to go home; might as well sit
up till one o'clock, and take private Bills. House aghast. SQUIRE OF
MALWOOD discreetly says he will think the matter over.
_Tuesday._--Another night on Parish Councils. Debate should have
finished last night; finally arranged to close it before dinner hour
to-day; but it dribbled on to midnight. As there was an hour to
spare, TOMMY BOWLES, who since Session resumed has been silent in
six languages, thought he might as well say a few words. Romped in at
half-past ten; awkward this; about the hour when JOKIM had intended
to lift debate out of rut by one of his luminous speeches. THOMAS,
however, thought House would prefer to hear him. At any rate, he
provided opportunity. When at length JOKIM spoke upon subject on which
he is supreme authority, House almost empty, altogether languid.
Brightened up for moment at SQUIRE OF MALWOOD'S happy wit. JOKIM,
following on line trekked by PRINCE ARTHUR, suggested that half of
Bill dealing with Poor Law matters should be abandoned. "According
to judgment of SOLOMON," said the SQUIRE, "it was the true mother who
would not consent to divide her child in two."
A dreary night made endurable by incursion of
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN--HERBERT THOMAS, of Faversham division of Kent.
For many years his brother sat in House till he finally wobbled into a
peerage, and, as ROSEBERY said, wore his coronet as a crown of thorns
because it had been given him by Mr. G. When he was with us here, and
one turned to _Dod_ to find him under heading "HUGESSEN," there was
discovered instruction "See KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN." This was explained
at the time on score that no one from day to day exactly knew where
_Hugessen_ was.
Different with his younger brother. "Sometimes," he said just now,
looking sorrowfully round the House, a gleam of comfort brightening
his eyes as they rested on a back view of JIMMY LOWTHER'S head, "I
believe I'm the only Tory left in the House."
To-night up and smote Parish Councils Bill in uncompromising speech.
No truckling to Socialism. No bowing the knee to the Baal HODGE. No
leaning on the arm of Rimmon as he goes to worship in the temple
of the Compound Householder. The Bill another downward step on the
pathway dug out for the chariot of Free Trade; the country going to
dogs at accelerated pace.
Small House, but it listened with delight to the most thoroughly
honest speech heard from any bench through many Parliaments.
_Business done._--Parish Councils Bill read second time.
_Thursday._--Still smiling at PRINCE ARTHUR'S joke; led up to with
great skill; last touch of art given in the look of startled surprise
with which he regarded uproariously laughing audience. Was passing
eulogy on RHODES and the Chartered Company, forasmuch as, whilst
certainly mowing down the Matabele with the Maxim gun, they had
spread the benefits of civilisation, "extending railways, extending
telegraphs, extending roads."
[Illustration: The Clark of the House causing a Division.]
"Exactly," said the SAGE OF QUEEN ANNE'S GATE. "I spoke for an hour
and a half, and BALFOUR puts what I had meant to say in a phrase. What
is all this action in Mashonaland, this spending of money, and making
of war, but the Extension of RHODES?"
MAGUIRE undertook to defend Chartered Company against attack of SAGE.
"Terrible work, TOBY," he said, mopping his heated brow. "Much rather
approach LOBENGULA'S kraal itself than stand up and face the House."
Had to be done, however, and MAGUIRE not the man to run away from
anything approaching a fight. Still he observed precaution of getting
as near the door as possible, speaking from remote end of bench,
almost outside limits of bar. Also he found some subtle comfort,
strength, and consolation in standing on one leg whilst he addressed
the Speaker. Sometimes it was the right leg, sometimes the left.
Whether on one or the other--not for a moment on two--he described
to the charmed House how the cherished object of Mr. RHODES, the one
desire upon which all the energies of the Chartered Company were bent,
was that the men of Matabele should "marry and settle down."
_Business done._--Discussion of affairs in Matabeleland.
_Friday._--Debate on M'LAREN'S Amendment to Employers' Liability Bill
brought to conclusion at midnight. Thought it would be all over before
dinner; dragged on hour after hour with ever deepening depression.
Seems as if already, in this first fortnight of Autumn Session,
energy's sapped; dulness certainly dominant.
"The fact is," said THE SQUIRE OF MALWOOD, "there is no fight about
the House now JOSEPH is awa'. Hear he is coming back towards end
of next week, balmy from the Bahamas, breezy from the Atlantic. I
shouldn't at all wonder if, upon his arrival, a genial change was
wrought in things generally."
_Business done._--Government defeat averted by majority of 19.
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