The ministerial crisis (engraving)

The ministerial crisis: Mr Gladstone's last speech in the House of Commons as Prime minister - "I have no difficulty in pronouncing a judgment on behalf of the Ministry in issues that have been raised throughout this year between the two Houses. We take frankly, fully, and finally, the side of the House of Commons. The House of Commons could not be a final judge in its own case, and I am by no means anxious to preeipitate proceedings of that kind, however they may be invited by an impatience most natural in the circumstances of the case. No doubt, Sir, there is a higher authority than the House of Commons. It is the authority of the nation which must in the last resort decide. Happily, we know that we, all of us, are sufficiently trained in the habits of Constitutional freedom to regard that issue as absolutely final upon one and upon all alike of every one of these subjects." Published in the Illustrated London News, 10 March 1894.