The Ballot Bill has been discussed for four weary days
; but it has not prospered, and the Times and other journals are quite sure it is to be withdrawn. It may possibly even have been already withdrawn before this journal is in our readers' hands. One view seems to be that the Lords will pass the Army Bill as a kind of compromise, if assured that they shall not be asked to discuss the Ballot Bill this session, but that is hardly a bargain that could be formulated. For the leaders of any branch of the Legislature to agree that they will approve certain provisions for the Army on condition certain other provisions for the election of the House of Commons are not submitted to them, would be to proclaim that their political judgment is formed on irrelevant, or worse than irrelevant, purely self-interested, considerations. However, whether the Lords throw out or pass the Army Bill, it seems hardly likely that the• Commons will pass the Ballot Bill this session. On Friday afternoon, the Committee was still debating Clause 3.
