Morley's motion, was the worst thing I have ever beheld. I am a
lover of the British House of Commons--with all its faults, and
drawbacks, and weaknesses, it is to me the most august assembly in the
world, with the greatest history, the finest traditions, the best
oratory. And, verily, I could have wept as I saw the House that night.
It was not that the passion was greater than I have ever seen, or the
noise even, or the dramatic excitement, it was that for hours, there was
nothing but sheer downright chaos, drivel, and anarchy.
[Sidenote: The unloosing of anarchy.]
It began when Mr. Mellor accepted the motion for closure. At once there
arose from the Tory Benches wild, angry, insulting cries of "Shame!
shame! scandalous! the gag! the gag!" This would have been all right if
it had been addressed to Mr. Gladstone. Party leaders have to give and
take, and in moments of excitement they must not complain if their
political opponents denounce them. But closure is the act of the
presiding officer of the House, and it has been an almost unbroken rule
and tradition of Parliament that the presiding officer shall be
safeguarded against even an approach to attack or insult.
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