The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-06-04 00:00:00

REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS.

DURING an interval between two of the sittings
in Committee on the Irish Land Bill, the House
of Commons has found time to discuss a question
whey, after half a generation of rest, is once
more forcing its way to the front. It is curious
to note that, aftEr the passing of the Reform
Bill of 1867, with its extension of the franchise
both in counties and boroughs and its redistribu-
tion of seats, Irish questions came to the front
and have remained there very nearly ever since.
In 1868 the Irish Church was discussed, and
than came the Irish Land, and next Irish Uui-
versity Education. There has been no single
session in which Ireland has not had a very con-
siderable Share of the legislative time and atten-
tion; and this Session, which is now nearly five
months old, has been devoted entirely to Irish
affairs. 'The tin..e is, however, coming when the
legislative wants of other parts of the empire
will become toe pressing to be sacrificed any
longer. Before the praseat House of Commons
is dissolved, it will probably be called upon to
discuss a measure embodying considerable elec-
toral changes. For eleven years past half a
dozen seats have been awaiting redistribution,
while a dozen more are vacant through the action
of the Election Commissioners. Then the
Census returns have disclosed such a shifting of
the population from the country to the town
that a re-arrangement of the representation will
be demanded as resting solely upon the prin.
eipies of justice, without any political question
whatever being introduced. The last ten years
have bhown more than ever that small places
have grown smaller and large places have become
larger in a degree which had not been percep-
tible before. The dwellers in the rural districts
seem to migrate to the towns, where there ara
more chances of employment, and where there
is more to be seen while the stream of life is
gliding past. It is impossible but that such
changes as these must be recognized by Parlia
went, and that speedity. Either next year or
the year after, this subject will in all probability
come before the Legislature, and the House of
Commons will be made a clearer, fuller, and
more complete embodiment of the will of the
people.
Tne object for which a representative body
exists is, that. it may reflect all the varied feet-

logs and opinions of the nation. The principle
upon which the American colonies separated
from the mother country was, that taxation with-
out representation was t 3 ninny. Prima facie,
the rural householder, who at present has no
direct representation in the House of Commons,
and who discharges all his duties to the State,
has as much right to it as his brother house-
holder mu the town, who helps to tend two mem-
tiers to Parliament. Anil it may he add ..id that
he object of Parliamentary representation is not
merely discussion but legislation. The eleete:,
body is not only to talk, but to work; not simply
to dispute, but to resolve. It represents there-
fore not the legislation of the people, but
itt-
decision. It is chosen, not to fight out a battle
but to register the result of a contest already
fought. It embodies, in fact, not all the con-
flicting views of national policy which exist, but
the victory of one view over all the rest.
The great complaint of the time is that Par-
liament is becoming far too much a were talking
conference. It seems almost to have lost its
eower to carry out the nation's behests. The
problem of the hoar is how to wake the will of
toe majority effective and get the work of the
nation done. The legislative deadlock in the
British Parliament is one at which the people an.
becoming impatient. Day after day, week after
week, month liter mouth, the House Of COlll-
- appeals to meet only for long debates, awl
consequently very little progress is wade in
tegislation. Meeting at four o'clock in the after-
noon, whin in these long summer days the Sun
is still high in the heaven, the House of Com-
mons sits not unfrequeutly until five or six in
the morning, by which time it is again broad
daylight, and the sun is once mole shining over
the metropolis, calling forth its busy millions to
another day of life and labour. While this
ceaseless talk is going on, the legislation of a
vast empire is at a standstill. The Parliament,
as its name implies, is an Imperial Parliament;
it is not summoned to legislate for one stetio:,
of the United Kingdom only, but for the whoa.
of the wide-spreading dominions belonging to the
British Crown. Its cumbrous onus, well enough
adapted to the conditions which existed centuries
Igo, are inadequate to deal with the require-
ments of to-day. But the longest night must
nave an end; nut with au amendment of tile
oasis upon Which the Parliament is elected a
change will be inevitable in the mode of
procedure of the House of Commons which aill
,nable that assembly the better to do its work,
,ind to ht tit the beilesi.s of the nation.