ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 162, 24 July 1886, Page 9

ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

(Per R.M.S Marifosa.) The > Home Rule < Division. A REMARKABLE SCENE IN THE COMMONS. . London, June 11. The division on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill was one of the most remarkable, as it is certainly one of the most important, that ever took place in the House of Commons. Not a single seat was vacant/and including the Speaker, 657 members voted, fiyememberswereabsent through illness and eight members abstained from voting. The Cuneervativea cast a solid vole ! of 250, which was reinforced by 93 Liberals, thus giving an absolute majority of theHouee against the Government r a rare event in similarly critical divisions. Excluding the Irish members, Great Britain pronounced against the Bill by a majority of 97. England and Wales, taken by themselves, gave on adverse majority of 102, whilst 23 Scotch Liberals left Mr Gladstone, But there remained a balance of five Scotch votes in his favour. The division lists give testimony to the complete disruption of the Liberal party, and the largeness of the majority . against the second reading caused general surprise, for the calculations varied between 10 and 20, and no guess ventured to put it so high as 30. The scene at the division was unparalleled and unforgetable. The House was filled from floor to ceiling j the press gallery was ovei flowing with ambassadors and distinguished strangers and the galleries were packed with the serried ranks of spectators, while tho Speaker's and strangers' galleries were crammed to"suffocation. Mr Gladstone, who concluded the debate, spoke nearly an hour and three-quarters,and the peroration of his speech was one of the most brilliant and impassioned efforts ever achieved in the Premier's long roll of oratorical succesdes. He implored the House in language of rare pathos to listen to Ireland, who stood at its bar expectant, hopeful, and almost suppliant. Her words were the words of truth and poberness, and she asked a blessed oblivion of the past in which England's interest was deeper than even bers. The Premier believed that the Government had with them the people's heart, that the ebbing tide was with the opponents of the Bill, the flowing tide witfi its supporters. " Think," he said, " think, I beseech you ; think well, think wisely, think not for a moment but for the years that are to come before you reject our plan." Mr Parnell, who spoke early in the evening, sought to convince the House of the moderation and loyalty of the Nationalists and their acceptance of the bill as a final measure. Immediately the Premier eat down the Speaker put the question, and declared the ayes had it. This being challenged, a division was taken and when the result was known a scene of tremendous excitement ensued. The Conservatives shouted themselves hoatse with cheering, waved their hats triumphantly, and jumped on their seats in exultation. There was alao some cheering- on the Liberal benches, but Messrs. Chamberlain and Cain sat immovable. The Irish members waited patiently for the Conservatives to exhaust their strength, and then rising en masse sent up a still louder shout. A voice cried out' "Three cheers for the Grand Old Man," and the whole House seemed to rise at the call, and Liberals and Parnellities vied in applauding the mover of the Bill. The public galleries also took part, and when silence was restored Mr Gladstone announced an adjournment till Thnreday and members left the House. It was a historical scene, the greatest witnessed since the passing of the Reform Act in 1832. In the oouiing elections the preservation of the Empire is the platform on which the Conservatives and Unionist Liberals wiil meet, and . this . common policy will probably keep party differences in the background for a time. It has been agreed that neither s'de will harass or oppose the other, but will strive to eecure the return of members pledged to defend the Empire. The old appellations Whig and Tory are temporarily laid aside, and the opposing factions will be called Unionists and Separatists.