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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 35
Prefatory
Prefatory.
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he debate, of which the following pages contain a report taken in shorthand and transcribed by Mr. Edward Downey, of the "Hansard" staff, arose out of a correspondence which appeared in a local news-paper between Messrs. Green and Bright. This correspondence led to a meeting, in which Hon. R. Stout assisted, on behalf of Mr. Bright, and Mr. Hislop, on behalf of Mr. Green. At this meeting the terms of the question to be discussed wore agreed upon, and the further proceedings left to the direction of a joint committee, consisting of Messrs. Green, James Black, John Hislop, and John Fergus; and Messrs. Bright, John Logan, Robert Rutherford, and W. M. Bolt.
The regulations as to time under which the discussion took place were as follow:—The debate to extend over three evenings of two hours each, and a fourth evening if either disputant desired.
On the first evening, Mr. Green to commence in a speech of half an hour, and Mr. Bright to be allowed a similar period; then alternate speeches of a quarter of an hour each for the concluding hour.
On the second evening Mr. Bright to commence in an address of twenty minutes, and Mr. Green to follow in a like time; then two speeches each of fifteen minutes, and a concluding speech, each, of ten minutes.
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The third and fourth evenings to be the same with the exception of alternate openings.
The debate accordingly took place at the Queen's Theatre on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, January 21, 22, 23, and 25, and the holding capacity of the building was tested to the uttermost, the stage even, being crowded with ladies and gentlemen. The proceedings were admirably presided over by Mr. A. H. Ross, Mr. David Henderson acting as assistant chairman on Mr. Green's behalf, and Mr. Robert, Rutherford on Mr. Bright's. The immense audiences behaved most creditably, only occasionally giving expression to their feelings in applause or tokens of dissent. As these were specially deprecated by both disputants, no notice has been taken of them in the report, save when they directly affected the utterances of the speaker.
Although only a small charge for admission was made, namely, 1s. to the dress circle, and 6d. to the rest of the theatre, the proceeds amounted to £157 9s. 6d. The balance remaining from this sum, after payment of expenses of theatre, advertising, and report, was £86 19s.; and this, according to previous arrangement, has been handed over, in the names of Messrs. Green and Bright, to the local Benevolent Institution.
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