* * * * When the Speaker would not accept
the closure some of the Scottish Members were guilty of such a violent demonstration and such unbridled language—some of it directed against the Speaker himself—that we think it is fair to say that the House of Commons had never before witnessed such a scene. The Speaker's impartiality is beyond all question. There is not a shadow of doubt that he arrived at his decision for what seemed to him cogent and honourable reasons. Not even the Speaker himself pretends that he is 'infallible ; 'but one of the first duties of the Elease is to support his authority, whatever privabe convections may be disappointed by his rulings, because under no other conditions is con- stitutional procedure practicable or even conceivable. The House of Commons has many new and inexperienced Members, and this is the most important lesson for them to learn. All parties lose in the long run by not sup- porting the Chair.
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