On Tuesday the Speaker was presented with the freedom of
the city of Carlisle, and acknowledged the honour in a speech worthy of his office and his own high record. After dwelling, in an interesting retrospect, on the continuity of his office—a continuity surpassing that of the Royal line—he disclaimed any title to distinction on the score of being in any special or peculiar sense the guardian of freedom of speech, on the ground that such an attitude was inherent in his position, but dissented from the ruling of a predecessor who declared that the Speaker could only call upon a Member to speak, the decision whether he was to be heard or not resting with the House. The Speaker's duty, in Mr. Lowther's view, is to secure by every proper means a fair and impartial bearing for all Members, subject to the rules of the .House, "however disagreeable their sentiments may be to their fellow-Members." Mr. Lowther's own practice illustrates his principle. His firmness is tempered by tact, geniality, and, whenever it can be judiciously indulged, by a fine sense of humour. He is one of the great personalities as well as the greatest official of the House, and in the exer- cise of his functions has earned the admiration as well as the respect of all parties.
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