§ MR. MACFARLANEI wish to ask the Prime Minister a question of which I have given him private notice. I wish to ask him whether he is aware that there are now 90 Amendments to Clause 3 of the Government of Ireland Bill upon the Paper, and that the Leader of the Opposition has publicly intimated that the chief object of the Amendments is to destroy the Bill; and whether the right hon. Gentleman proposes to take any steps to render this or any other legislation possible?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI hesitated for a moment in order to give the right hon. Gentleman opposite an opportunity of explaining.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me now. I understand that the hon. Gentleman has just asserted that I had stated in public that the object of the Amendments was to destroy the Home Rule Bill. That is undoubtedly the fact; but I did not say that the method by which they were to destroy the Bill was by accumulation of numbers. The way in which we trust to destroy the Bill is by bringing propositions before the House which the House will accept, and which the Government will think inconsistent with the further progress of the Bill.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI do not propose to answer the right hon. Gentle man, except that I may be permitted to say that I think he is a little sanguine, judging from what has occurred thus far, in his expectation that the House is about to adopt a formidable number of Amendments which will be inconsistent with the progress of the Bill. That does not require prolonged reference from me. In answer to my hon. Friend, I may say that I am not surprised that he feels some disappointment and, perhaps, a little impatience at the slow progress that is being made with the Bill. The answer 1767 I make is this—that although, perhaps, I am a little discouraged in the matter of time, yet, like my hon. Friend, I rely very much upon the good sense and equity of the House and its consciousness of what is due and necessary to its own dignity; and, in these circumstances, it is our desire and intention to proceed with the Bill as we have proceeded with it—that is to say, by doing all we can to shorten discussion by explanation, by conciliation, and by concession, where it may appear to us to be consistent with he objects of the Bill and with the regular and practical consideration of its various provisions.
§ MR. MACFARLANEAlter the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, I should like to be allowed to lead the exact words be used, taken from The Times of May 8. He said that he would vote for everything that would improve the Bill and, above all, everything that would destroy the Bill.