Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/446

 43 2 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1855- ceeded with, but that the House should in committee con- sider a series of resolutions as the basis for a new measure. The proposal was eagerly accepted, and it was thus that the present machinery for the government of a great empire was framed. The method had some advantages in a case in which party considerations were not strongly pressed, and it enabled Parliament to have the full benefit of the wisdom and the constructive ability of the Radicals, which were con- spicuously exhibited in the course of the discussions. During the session ministers had many serious reminders of the nature of the tenure on which they held office. A most unpleasant one for the old Tories was the question of the admission of Jews to Parliament. The exclusion of Jews was a pet bit of religious persecution, which they had been allowed to perpetrate probably because the sufferers were neither numerous nor noisy. Now at last, at the very time that they were in office, the surrender had to be made ; but it was done with a bad grace, which showed how very dis- agreeable the process was. The bill, which had passed the House of Commons by large majorities, contained two sections one altering the form of the oath of abjuration, and the other allowing the Jews to take their oath without the words " on the true faith of a Christian." On the second reading in the House of Lords, on the 23rd of April, the Premier, whilst not opposing the whole bill, gave notice that he would in committee vote for the rejection of the part affecting the Jews. This he did on the 3Oth of April, and the clause was accordingly struck out. The bill thus mutilated was sent to the Commons, who, on the loth of May, refused to agree with the Lords' amendment. There was some very plain speaking on the occasion, and Sir R. Bethell said that he should propose a plan by which the House of Commons could deal with the question of the admission of its members for itself. The House of Lords took the warning, and, although Derby would not so directly come down as to re- insert the old clause, he consented to the passing of a separate bill, giving each House power to provide by resolution for