It is one of the
peculiarities of this strangely interesting Session that nearly every
division is a picturesque and portentous event. With a majority so small
as forty, the turnover of a very few votes from one side to the other
may mean the defeat of Home Rule, the downfall of Gladstone and his
Government, and chaos come again. And these accidents are always
possible. Death knocks at the door of the families of members of
Parliament as of other people; and often, when one of the great
divisions is pending, the Whips have to consider the grim and painful
question whether they can allow a man to remain by the rack on which a
wife lies tortured, or receive a loving mother's parting sigh. For some
reason or other, Tuesday was a bad day for the Liberals, and there was a
series of ugly and annoying little mishaps. Thus, in the first division,
which was snatched quickly by the Tories, informed by their scouts of
what was going on, the majority sank to thirty-three. This was a bad
beginning, but worse, as will be seen, remained behind.
[Sidenote: Lord Wolmer.]
The Committee was now on Clause 3. This is the clause which contains the
list of the subjects on which the Irish Legislature is not to have the
right to legislate--such questions as the succession to the Crown,
questions of peace and war, foreign treaties, coinage, copyright, trade,
etc.
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