DOI Heft:
August 14, 1880
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17764#0071
August 14, 1880.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
63
As a preliminary, Lord Kimberley announced that the
Government had decided to recall Sir Bartle Frere,
the Great First Fiddler’s instrument not being entirely
in tune with the Government orchestra.
Then Earl Granville suavely and suasively moved
the Second Reading of the Bill, whose character he
described as follows
“ The Bill in effect provides that where the only reason why
the tenant cannot pay his rent is the unusual failure of the
harvests, when the tenant is willing to make reasonable terms
with his landlord as to rent, arrears of rent, and otherwise, and
when such terms have been refused by the landlord without any
offer of a reasonable alternative, then the use of one of his reme-
dies—a remedy to enforce the tenant's contract with himself,
which is not possessed by English and Scotch landlords—will be
suspended for a term not exceeding sixteen months, after which
it can be resumed.”
Tbe Bill — like a Bobby’s beat — was limited as to
“area” and “time.” Its principle was not “novel,”
tbougb charged witb being “sensational.” He was
sorry to bear that Lord Grey was about to resume his
role of “ Cbucker-out” to tbe proposed measures of bis
own party; but as be bad been at it for a quarter of a
century, Liberal grief on that score was a mitigated woe.
Lord Grey proved bis love of tbe Liberal party, as
usual, by sharply chastening it. Turning bis face to
tbe Opposition Benches, be lashed out behind, like a less
noble animal.
“Turn this way—they are converted,” blandly sug-
gested Lord Granville; whereupon Lord Grey faced
round upon “bis friends, tbe enemy.” As a pendant;
to Lord Granville’s couleur-cle-rose sketch, he described j
tbe Bill as one for suspending tbe power of getting
rents, and, in that character, opposed it.
Lord Emly thought that—
“ Apt exaggeration’s artful aid
Had made the Peers of this poor Bill afraid.”
Tbe Marquis of Lansdowne credited tbe Government j
witb Good Intentions, but must decline to tread witb ]
them tbe road of wbicb these were proverbially tbe pave- |
ment. What was “a reasonable alternative” for tbe!
landlord? “ Between tbe devil and tbe deep sea” was j
tbe nearest definition he could bit upon. If this Bill
were passed, we should have no more fine weather in j
Ireland.
Tbe Earl oe Derby (more suo) was moderate and
mediatorial. Rather than accept tbe Bill as it stood,
indeed, be would help kick it out, but “on the whole”
(tbe favourite formula of such minds as tbe Earl’s) he
was in favour of encouraging the poor thing, and amend-
ing it in Committee—that Parliamentary purgatory where
peccant Bills are purged of clinging frailties, and pre-
pared for tbe Elysium of tbe Statute Book.
Tbe Marquis of Salisbury thought the Bill a por-
tentous combination of Sphinx, Proteus, and Chimera.
Its genesis bad been perplexing, and be hoped for its
speedy exodus. “ Be just (to the Landlords), and fear
not” (tbe Land League), should be tbe motto of tbe
House of Lords.
(N.B.—This high-sounding motto, borrowed from Mr.
Gladstone, does not, of course, apply to Foreign affairs,
my Lord!)
After some defensive remarks from Earl Kimberley,
tbe House, on tbe Motion of Earl Cairns, adjourned at
five minutes to twelve o’clock.
{Commons.)—Tbe House was shocked by tbe announce-
ment of tbe grave indisposition of Mr. Gladstone. (Upon
his happy recovery therefrom, Mr. Punch, and a re-
lieved country, cordially congratulate tbe Right Honour-
able Gentleman—and themselves.)
In Committee of Supply on tbe Civil Service Estimates,
Mr. Mundella moved tbe vote of £‘1,466,077 to complete
tbe sum necessary for Public Education for tbe financial
year. Interesting review of tbe progress in education
during the. decade that has elapsed since the passing of
tbe Education Act. General chorus of praise to tbe Vice-
President of tbe Privy Council.
NATURAL RELIGION.
Bishop (reproving delinquent Page). “Wretched Boy! JVmo is it that sees
AND HEARS ALL WE DO, AND BEFORE WHOM EVEN I AM BUT AS A CRUSHED
Worm ? ”
Page. “The Missus, my Lord !”
Lord Salisbury’s sense) was riddled indeed (in an artilleryman’s). He thought
(to summarise seven columns in as many lines) it would impair tbe fixed principles
of “proputty,” in deference to an unproven emergency, unfairly tax tbe
pockets of a small section of tbe public, raise tbe sordid passions of tbe
peasantry, and drive away Capital from Ireland.
Lord Selborne characterised tbe Earl’s seven columns as “ observations.”
“Let ‘observations’ with extensive view,
Survey the Bill, and say it will not do.”
He, Lord Selborne, thought it would. He rather fancied Earl Cairns,
like certain Wimbledon marksmen, bad been scoring bulls’-eyes (wbicb did not
count) on tbe wrong target, peppering a phantom Bill of bis own imagination
quite different from the one actually before tbe House.
Lord Cranbrook, witb bis accustomed heat, threw cold water on tbe Bill,
tbe Duke of Argyle as warmly defended it.
Tbe Earl of Beaconsfield was retrospective, preferring, apparently, the
calm pleasures of Memory to the flattering tales of Hope, or tbe delusive
delights of Imagination. He informed a listening Senate that it was “a busy
age,” and a “rapid,” that we had got into a pernicious habit of forgetting
world-shaking events,—wbicb took place five years ago (tbe Devon Commission,
for example),—that “new ideas” were not so omnipotent, as some people im-
agined,, and that tbe despotism of public opinion required tempering—by
Disraelian epigram, of course. He, also incidentally, opposed the Bill.
After a brief reply from . Lord Granville, tbe House divided. Tbe Great
Proputty Fight ended in a majority of 231 against tbe Bill (Contents 51, Non-
Contents 282) ; and the Peers, having once more “ saved their country,”
and “earned tbe, gratitude of posterity,” broke up at twenty-five minutes
to two.
“ For he’s a jolly Mundella,
And so say all of us! ”
Vote agreed to. House adjourned at 2'25.
Tuesday (Lords).—Debate on tbe Big-Little Irish Bill
resumed. For bard upon three hours did Chief Gunner
CAiRNSjfire forensic shot into it until the “riddle” (in
(Commons.)—Here, upon tbe Employers’ Liability Bill was waged by lesser
men a lesser war. Law, portly and saccharine, on one side of tbe table, fought
Law, smart and subacid, on tbe other; irresponsible philanthropists gushed,
and irresponsible Ishmaelites gibed ; and whilst Conservative free-lances showed
themselves wonderfully liberal—of disinterested advice to the. Government.—
Liberal Capitalists proved remarkably Conservative — of their own special
interests. Highly interesting masquerade of political emotions.
63
As a preliminary, Lord Kimberley announced that the
Government had decided to recall Sir Bartle Frere,
the Great First Fiddler’s instrument not being entirely
in tune with the Government orchestra.
Then Earl Granville suavely and suasively moved
the Second Reading of the Bill, whose character he
described as follows
“ The Bill in effect provides that where the only reason why
the tenant cannot pay his rent is the unusual failure of the
harvests, when the tenant is willing to make reasonable terms
with his landlord as to rent, arrears of rent, and otherwise, and
when such terms have been refused by the landlord without any
offer of a reasonable alternative, then the use of one of his reme-
dies—a remedy to enforce the tenant's contract with himself,
which is not possessed by English and Scotch landlords—will be
suspended for a term not exceeding sixteen months, after which
it can be resumed.”
Tbe Bill — like a Bobby’s beat — was limited as to
“area” and “time.” Its principle was not “novel,”
tbougb charged witb being “sensational.” He was
sorry to bear that Lord Grey was about to resume his
role of “ Cbucker-out” to tbe proposed measures of bis
own party; but as be bad been at it for a quarter of a
century, Liberal grief on that score was a mitigated woe.
Lord Grey proved bis love of tbe Liberal party, as
usual, by sharply chastening it. Turning bis face to
tbe Opposition Benches, be lashed out behind, like a less
noble animal.
“Turn this way—they are converted,” blandly sug-
gested Lord Granville; whereupon Lord Grey faced
round upon “bis friends, tbe enemy.” As a pendant;
to Lord Granville’s couleur-cle-rose sketch, he described j
tbe Bill as one for suspending tbe power of getting
rents, and, in that character, opposed it.
Lord Emly thought that—
“ Apt exaggeration’s artful aid
Had made the Peers of this poor Bill afraid.”
Tbe Marquis of Lansdowne credited tbe Government j
witb Good Intentions, but must decline to tread witb ]
them tbe road of wbicb these were proverbially tbe pave- |
ment. What was “a reasonable alternative” for tbe!
landlord? “ Between tbe devil and tbe deep sea” was j
tbe nearest definition he could bit upon. If this Bill
were passed, we should have no more fine weather in j
Ireland.
Tbe Earl oe Derby (more suo) was moderate and
mediatorial. Rather than accept tbe Bill as it stood,
indeed, be would help kick it out, but “on the whole”
(tbe favourite formula of such minds as tbe Earl’s) he
was in favour of encouraging the poor thing, and amend-
ing it in Committee—that Parliamentary purgatory where
peccant Bills are purged of clinging frailties, and pre-
pared for tbe Elysium of tbe Statute Book.
Tbe Marquis of Salisbury thought the Bill a por-
tentous combination of Sphinx, Proteus, and Chimera.
Its genesis bad been perplexing, and be hoped for its
speedy exodus. “ Be just (to the Landlords), and fear
not” (tbe Land League), should be tbe motto of tbe
House of Lords.
(N.B.—This high-sounding motto, borrowed from Mr.
Gladstone, does not, of course, apply to Foreign affairs,
my Lord!)
After some defensive remarks from Earl Kimberley,
tbe House, on tbe Motion of Earl Cairns, adjourned at
five minutes to twelve o’clock.
{Commons.)—Tbe House was shocked by tbe announce-
ment of tbe grave indisposition of Mr. Gladstone. (Upon
his happy recovery therefrom, Mr. Punch, and a re-
lieved country, cordially congratulate tbe Right Honour-
able Gentleman—and themselves.)
In Committee of Supply on tbe Civil Service Estimates,
Mr. Mundella moved tbe vote of £‘1,466,077 to complete
tbe sum necessary for Public Education for tbe financial
year. Interesting review of tbe progress in education
during the. decade that has elapsed since the passing of
tbe Education Act. General chorus of praise to tbe Vice-
President of tbe Privy Council.
NATURAL RELIGION.
Bishop (reproving delinquent Page). “Wretched Boy! JVmo is it that sees
AND HEARS ALL WE DO, AND BEFORE WHOM EVEN I AM BUT AS A CRUSHED
Worm ? ”
Page. “The Missus, my Lord !”
Lord Salisbury’s sense) was riddled indeed (in an artilleryman’s). He thought
(to summarise seven columns in as many lines) it would impair tbe fixed principles
of “proputty,” in deference to an unproven emergency, unfairly tax tbe
pockets of a small section of tbe public, raise tbe sordid passions of tbe
peasantry, and drive away Capital from Ireland.
Lord Selborne characterised tbe Earl’s seven columns as “ observations.”
“Let ‘observations’ with extensive view,
Survey the Bill, and say it will not do.”
He, Lord Selborne, thought it would. He rather fancied Earl Cairns,
like certain Wimbledon marksmen, bad been scoring bulls’-eyes (wbicb did not
count) on tbe wrong target, peppering a phantom Bill of bis own imagination
quite different from the one actually before tbe House.
Lord Cranbrook, witb bis accustomed heat, threw cold water on tbe Bill,
tbe Duke of Argyle as warmly defended it.
Tbe Earl of Beaconsfield was retrospective, preferring, apparently, the
calm pleasures of Memory to the flattering tales of Hope, or tbe delusive
delights of Imagination. He informed a listening Senate that it was “a busy
age,” and a “rapid,” that we had got into a pernicious habit of forgetting
world-shaking events,—wbicb took place five years ago (tbe Devon Commission,
for example),—that “new ideas” were not so omnipotent, as some people im-
agined,, and that tbe despotism of public opinion required tempering—by
Disraelian epigram, of course. He, also incidentally, opposed the Bill.
After a brief reply from . Lord Granville, tbe House divided. Tbe Great
Proputty Fight ended in a majority of 231 against tbe Bill (Contents 51, Non-
Contents 282) ; and the Peers, having once more “ saved their country,”
and “earned tbe, gratitude of posterity,” broke up at twenty-five minutes
to two.
“ For he’s a jolly Mundella,
And so say all of us! ”
Vote agreed to. House adjourned at 2'25.
Tuesday (Lords).—Debate on tbe Big-Little Irish Bill
resumed. For bard upon three hours did Chief Gunner
CAiRNSjfire forensic shot into it until the “riddle” (in
(Commons.)—Here, upon tbe Employers’ Liability Bill was waged by lesser
men a lesser war. Law, portly and saccharine, on one side of tbe table, fought
Law, smart and subacid, on tbe other; irresponsible philanthropists gushed,
and irresponsible Ishmaelites gibed ; and whilst Conservative free-lances showed
themselves wonderfully liberal—of disinterested advice to the. Government.—
Liberal Capitalists proved remarkably Conservative — of their own special
interests. Highly interesting masquerade of political emotions.