• On Tuesday the Opposition moved their amendment's. The
first was that of Mr. Stuart-Wortley asking for the omission of the words recording the verdict of the country. Alter short speeches from Mr. Balfour and the Solicitor-General, the amendment was rejected on a division by 445 votes to 118. Mr. Wyndham then moved an amendmentpledging the House to resist any "proposal involving artificial protection against legitimate competition," but reserving the right to consider any tariff for the purposes of revenue, retaliation, or Imperial union. His speech, which was vigorous and clear, covered the ground familiar in such orations. Directly Mr. Wyndham sat down the Prime Minister moved the Closure, which was carried by a majority of 348, and the House divided on Sir James Kitson's Resolution, which was carried by 474 votes to 98, a majority of 376. It is worth noting that from twenty - to thirty Unionists of Free-trade inclinations who voted for Mr. Stuart-Wortley's amendment and against the Closure refrained from voting against the Resolution. Some seven Unionist Free-traders, including Lord Robert Cecil, had the courage of their opinions, and voted with the Government on the main Resolution. The general result of the discussion has been, we think, good from the Free-trade point of view. That not one hundred Members could be induced to support the Unionist leaders in condemning a Free-trade Resolution is a, great fact.
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