People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1894 — ABOLISH THE LORDS. [ARTICLE]

ABOLISH THE LORDS.

Labouebere’* Motion Pasaed by the House of Common*. London, March 15.—1 n the house of commons Tuesday Mr. Henry Labouchere proposed as an amendment to the address in reply to the queen’s speech the abolition of the house of lords. After some discussion and considerable excitement the amendment was put to a vote and was passed, 147 to 145, in spite of the opposition of the government. When the figures were announced they caused an outburst of prolonged cheering, which was renewed when the deputy speaker read the address in reply to the queen’s speech with Mr. Labouchere’s amendment attached to it- The division on the amendment occurred earlier than was expected, and many of the conservatives were at dinner. The majority was composed of seventy-three McCarthyites and Parnellites, the remainder being radicals. The cheering which followed the announcement of the result lasted fully a minute. Some of the members acted in the most frantic manner. The waving of handkerchiefs and hats continued until the deputy speaker left the chair for a short interval.

The result of the division on Mr. Labouchere’s amendment partook of the nature of a surprise, not only to the government, but to many of those who had voted in favor of the amendment. Several of the latter avowed that their object in supporting the amendment was merely to give a good division against the house of lords. They declare that they had no idea that there was any prospect of the amendment being carried, It was in fact a jump in the dark and a bringing up at a place at which they did not expect to arrive. The action that will be taken by the government in view of the defeat inflicted upon it by its whilom supporters is a matter of conjecture. The prospect of the resignation of the cabinet was a general topic in the lobbies of the house of commons Tuesday evening. It is expected that the cabinet will meet to-day to discuss the matter.

What the outcome of this victory will be cannot be safely prophesied. Sensationalists talk of the cabinet resigning and a general turn overoof English politics, while the more conservative classes maintain that the amendment being passed at a time when the government forces were absent, it will amount to nothing more than a nine-day wonder. It is, however, generally conceded that the Rosebery administration has been ushered in in a manner not to be desired or applauded. Editorially the morning papers concede this fact, even though they belittle the episode.