f that it had not the strength nor the courage to face its own
ill-doing, and wanted to get away from the horrid thing as soon as it
possibly could. Yet there was a strong sense that an incident so
unprecedented--so disgraceful, so utterly lowering to the dignity of a
great, august and historic assembly--should not, and could not be
allowed to pass as though nothing had occurred. It was also pretty
clear, amid so many conflicting statements, that the responsibility for
the passing over the gulf between mere verbal encounter and physical
violence rested with Mr. Hayes Fisher, and that, therefore, it was on
him any punishment should be visited which the House of Commons deemed
necessary for the protection of its outraged dignity. However, as I have
said, the House of Commons was so heartily ashamed of itself, and
desired to get its shame out of sight and out of memory as soon as
possible.

[Footnote: A lame apology.]

But Mr. Hayes Fisher did not act particularly well. It was he who had
taken Mr. Logan by the collar, and therefore, it was he who had struck
the first blow. There was some execrable haggling as to whether Mr.
Hayes Fisher or Mr. Logan should make the first apology--execrable, I
say, because a gentleman never ought to haggle over an apology if he
feels that he has been in the wrong, and because nobody could deny that
Mr. Fisher had been the original wrongdoer. The result was that when
Mr. Gladstone came into the House on July 31st, and was asked questions
about the business, the Old Man, for once, found himself in a
difficulty. He had been told that apologies were going to be made; but
Mr. Fisher made no sign, and, indeed, it looked very much as if he would
do nothing at all. Labby intervened at this psychological moment by
reading that extract from the account in the _Pall Mall Gazette_ which
fixed Mr. Fisher's responsibility under his own hand, and it was seen
that something would have to be done. Then--and not till then--did Mr.
Fisher speak and make his apology. Mr. Logan--who had very properly
refused to take the initiative--then made a very brief but a very
handsome explanation of what he had done, and after a few lofty words
from Mr. Gladstone and the Speaker the matter was allowed to drop into
the dark abyss of oblivion. But we can't forget it.

[Sidenote: Messrs. McCorquodale & Co.]

On August 3rd there was a most instructive and important little debate
on a Labour question. It had reference to t