NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE unwise attempt of Sir H. James to throw out the Government on the question of the Indian Cotton-duties failed on Thursday as it deserved. It was believed on Tues- day and Wednesday that the Government might "climb down," for they hold twenty-four seats in Lancashire, and a revolt of only ten of them would have dismissed the Ministry from power. Mr. Fowler, however, is a man with a backbone, and with confidence in his countrymen, and he insisted on fighting the question on its merits. The event justified him. The Unionist leaders refused to support a motion which, had it succeeded, would have thrown discredit on their patriotism, would have confused the issue at the General Election, and would have compelled them to quarrel, as their first act of power, with both the Government and the people of India. Mr. Goschen called on the Unionists to resist the temptation offered them ; and Sir Henry James's motion was rejected by 304 votes to 109. A few Unionists followed Lord George Hamilton into the Lancastrian Lobby, but practically the strength of parties was not tested.
