malady-scarlet fever-from which her sister had recovered. After some days of alternating hope and fear he was able to return to London with a heart thankful that the little life so inexpressibly dear was spared to him. At his next visit he records, "Wrea Head indeed a haven of rest after the last fortnight or so. How thankful we are to be here with the girls well, lounging round this sweet place, the delight of which it is almost impossible to put on paper." CHAPTER VI HIS SECOND PARLIAMENT ON June 9, 1886, the Government of Ireland Bill was defeated by a hostile majority of thirty votes. The numbers were 343 against 313. Ninety-three Liberals voted against the Bill. The next day the dissolution of the Government was announced, and there began one of the most keenly fought of all elections. The Rushcliffe Committee again unanimously adopted John Ellis as their candidate, and on the 18th his address was published. Never was issue more plainly indicated. The electors were bluntly told, "In this Irish matter there are only two roads to take, two leaders to follow, Lord Salisbury or Mr. Gladstone. The former's specific for the malady is twenty years of resolute policy, or in other words coercion, whilst the latter offers Ireland a representative legislative body in Dublin to deal with exclusively Irish affairs. The great virtue of Mr. Gladstone's plan lies in its promise of a real Union based upon the mutual affections and common interests of the people of Great Britain and Ireland." In this election Ellis had a formidable opponent in the person of Mr. George Foljambe, who stood as Liberal Unionist. The high standing of Mr. Foljambe's family and the respect 1886] GENERAL ELECTION naturally felt for them in the district had their effect on the voting but were not sufficient to turn the scale, Ellis being elected by a substantial majority of close upon fifteen hundred. In the troublous times of 1886, one of the few gains to the Liberal party was the seat for Scarborough where Ellis had persuaded his brotherin-law, Mr. Joshua Rowntree, to stand, and thus the two who had for so many years been a help and support to each other became colleagues in the new Parliament. "Walked down with Joshua Rowntree," the diary reads on the day Parliament opened. "How little he and I thought twenty years ago of entering those doors together." The final result of the General Election was that the opponents of the Irish policy of the Government numbered 390, whilst in its favour there were only 280, thus leaving Mr. Gladstone in a minority of 110. Resignation was the only course for the Government; this step was promptly taken, and Lord Salisbury became Prime Minister. But neither the veteran leader of the Liberal party nor his followers abated hope or slackened their endeavour. Some of the dissentient Liberals rejoined the Home Rule party, but many others decided to cast in their lot with Mr. Chamberlain and pursue the path which led to Conservatism pure and simple. One of the early notices of the new Parliament in the diary recounts a conversation with the Speaker on the latitude allowed to members when amendments were before the House. A careful observer of procedure from the first, Ellis became in time one of the recognised authorities upon it. 1 The actual figures were Ellis 4,784, Foljambe 3,337; majority 1,447. Having espoused the cause of Ireland he gave of his best to the study of its history and conditions. In his place in the House he was ever on the watch for the new methods of the coercion régime. Early in the session he supported a motion for the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing the appointment of a military officer of high rank-Sir Redvers Buller with undefined administrative and magisterial powers. "Was he to be a military man or a magistrate?" asked Ellis. "Was he to have power to call the military to his aid?" Twice during his speech had the Speaker to intervene, and the diary notes "I spoke (called to order quite fairly by the Speaker): having no reputation to lose did not damage it, but can do better another time. The whole proceeding apart from the personal, a great success.' On September 2 a passage of arms with Lord Randolph Churchill arose over the report of the Address in answer to the Queen's Speech and he writes: To Mr. Jesse Hind. . " 1 Sept. 4th, 1886. I stood up to Churchill on Thursday night, but it was so very late the papers did not get it properly. I only spoke about three minutes, but was perfectly cool (the House was crowded and excited) and Parnell told me afterwards no one in the House could have done it better-a great compliment from him. The effect of our attitude was very visible on Friday night. Churchill was mighty civil to the House, and 1 As showing how questions of procedure had their interest for John Ellis, it is worthy of note that six months later the diary records a conversation with the Speaker on this incident. Ellis referred to having been called to order, and the reply was "You must not mind that, Mr. Ellis. It happens to all new members. It has happened to myself." 1886] VISIT TO IRELAND has actually promised (without consulting his colleagues) to give a special sitting of the House to hear Parnell's views about evictions! The Liberal Unionists and some of the Tories are wild! But closely as he might give his mind to the Irish problem both in the House of Commons and in the study, it soon became clear to him that the wider and more intimate knowledge of local conditions to be gained on the spot was essential to the true understanding of the work to which he was devoting himself. Accordingly he made up his mind to visit Ireland and see things in person. John Dillon gave him much advice as to where to go and what to see, and Parnell told him "I am glad you are going; this House is a little place." Setting out with two sons, John and Arthur, and joined for part of the tour by his brotherin-law, Mr. Joshua Rowntree, he arrived in Dublin on September 14. No time was lost in getting (to work on local problems. On the first day he writes, "Called on T. Harrington, M.P., who laid bare to me the organisation and methods of the National League.' Saw the Town Clerk, Dublin, concerning the working of Municipal institutions." The ensuing weeks were spent in visits to Wicklow, Galway, Limerick, and the South West. In every place visited he made the most minute inquiries from all classes of men. Naturally the land question and poor law relief came foremost, and his diary teems with shrewd notes and conclusions derived from clergy, local officials, land agents, and all or any who might be qualified to give opinions founded on experience. Before leaving Ireland, and in view of the wide-spread misery which he had seen arising from the evictions. which were then taking place, he made a contribution |