The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-28 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

The Times believes that so far from increasing the
present inteponclerant influence of the House of Commons,
the presence of life peers in the Upper House would tend
to restore the influence of the House of Lords. Their
numbers would, indeed, be small ; for it need scarcely be
remarked that, as no man would ever be made a life peer
before he had attained a considerable position, there would
be generally at least a quarter of the whole body incapaci-
tated by age and infirmity from attending in Parlia-
ment ; yet, though small in number, they would be
powerful in influence. They would bring the House of
Lords, as Lord Salisbury has remarked, into more
direct relation with the people at large. The House of
Lords would not merely be open to political ability which
has not bad the fortune to inherit or to amass large landed
estates ; a Minister would be enabled to summon to its
deliberations persons engaged in all the developments of
national energy, and the conclusions of an assembly sc
constituted would command a respect and confidence
which has not always been given to the opinions of a
House composed almost exclusively of great landowners.
The coneequences we anticipate from the addition of life
leers to the House of Lords are widely different from
those apprehended by Lord Derby. So far from strengthen.
ing the House of Commons as compared with the Lords,
it would, we believe, tend to strengthen the House of
Lords as compared with the Commons. So far from
making the Upper House more deferential to a popular
vote in the Commons, it would tend to make it more
independent. It would add to the stability rather than to
the mobility of the Constitution, and we are bound to
approve the change for that very reason. The proposal is,
in truth, another contribution to that great idea of Reform
which desires to make Parliament represent the whole of
the nation. The introduction into the House of Lords of
a limited number of peers, chosen for their distinction and
eminence in active life, must tend to supply it with ele-
ments which Parliament needs, and, by increasing the
mental power and experience of the Upper Chamber,
strengthen its legitimate influence. It is because they
foresee such consequences that the votaries of those im-
perfect forms of democracy which have till lately seemed
the final consummation of all societies of English origin
look aekance upon the change. It is for the same reason
that we recommend it.

The Post refers to the second reading of the bill for the
creation of life peerages in the House of Lords ; and says
that notwithstanding a certain reservation on the part of
the Conservative section of the House as to their future
action after the measure has passed through committee,
the introduction of life peers into the Upper House may
be looked on as an accomplished fact. The bill must in
due course be submitted to the House of Commons;
but it may be not unreasonably presumed that no
objections will be offered by it to a change
which exclusively concerns the other Chamber. If the
hereditary peers are content to admit to, their councils
peers who have not the right of transmitting their status
and privileges to their descendants, it is not for the Com-
mons to complain of such an arrangement. The fact that
a bill in many respects so unexpected, so novel, and in its
provisions so antagonistic to allthe traditions of the House of
Lords, should have met in that Chamber with so ready an
assent is in itself very significant. We do not apprehend that
any material change in its general tenour will be made,
and still less any effectual opposition to its ultimate accep.
tance. The more thoughtful of the peers on both sides of
the House are perfectly satisfied that the effect of the
measure will be greatly to add to the strength of their
House, and to increase the estimation in whiCh it is held ,
by the vast mass of the people.
The Standard says that the House of Lords has, after
a moderate and statesman.slike speech from Lord Derby,
agreed to the second reading of the bill for the creation of
life peerages. This step, however important in itself as
showing the disposition of the Peers to conform to what
seems to be a demand of public opinion, cannot be taken
as implying the assent of their lordships to anything more
than the bare principle of Lord Russell's bill. That prin-
ciple is, that it is desirable, with the view to the altered
circumstances of the Crown in the creation of peers, whom
it has no power to endow, as formerly, that a certain
limited number of persons should be admitted to
the privileges of the Upper House who are by fortune
unable to sustain the hereditary dignity. Upon
this point the opinion of their lordships, as signified
on Wednesday night, cannot be taken as controverting
the position laid down in the famous resolution of 1856.
Although the House of Lords has agreed to the second
reading of Lord Russell's bill, it is certain that, if the
measure passes at all, it will be in some shape as different
as possible from that which Lord Russell has conceived.
One of the most pertinent objections against the bill is,
strangely enough, one which was suggested by Lord Gran-
ville, who professes himself a fervent admirer of the prin-
ciple. In regretting that the reform in the constitution of
the House of Peers should take the shape of a, bill, to he
discussed by the two Houses jointly, Lord Granville
expressed what is one of the strongest arguments against
the measure. If life peerages are desirable, it is
surely more constitutional, and more in accordance with
the dignity of the peers, that the innovation should be
introduced by their own action exclusively, rather than by
legislation. There is, in fact, no legislation necessary
upon the question. The Crown has the undoubted power,
at present, of making life peers. The House of Lords has
only to pass a new resolution to admit such peers to the
full privileges of their order. It would be far better to do
this than to consent to a bill which admits the Lower.
House to an equal share of the discussion of rights and
privileges which belong to the House of Lords alone, and
which, for the sake of their own character and indepen-
dence, ought rather to be settled by the second estate for
itself than by the two Houses jointly.
The Star declares that the legal position of Bishop
Colenso has been determined, and is no longer open te
controversy. Now that this is settled the Church in
Natal should be left to work out its own mission. We are
informed that the laity in the colony are about equally
divided in opinion; and as both parties are now in posses-
sion of a bishop there is no reason why they should not be
allowed to compete for the supremacy by the legitimate
employment of those moral weapons which alone are
effectual for the propagation of truth and the
refutation of error. The highly intelligent com-
munity of Natal are able to judge for themselves
on points of doctrine without the intervention of
tribunals in this country. The intellectual and spiritual
forces which are at work in Natal, or in any colony
similarly circumstanced, cannot be controlled by any eccle-
siastical machinery in this country. Bishop Gray has
consecrated Mr. Macrorie, and has thus exercised a
spiritual authority which, if it mean anything, means a
recognition of the right of those who regard Dr. Colenso's
teaching as heretical to choose their own episcopal overseer.
This is an application of the voluntary principle with
which the friends of religious equality will not quarrel.
But we have a right to expect consistency even on the part
of those who support the Bishop of Capetown's proceed-
legs, and consistency requires that they should concede to
others the same freedom of action which they claim for
themselves.
The Times, in anticipating the arrival of Mr. Motley,
remarks that he is said to be the exponent of the latest
American ideas on the subject of the Alabama, and the
war generally. It will be interesting to learn in what 1,
respects Mr. Motley considers the late stipulations tc
have been. unsatisfactory. If we are invited to discuss
the question of England's right to recognise the
Southerners as belligerents, it will be for het
Majesty's Government to decide whether, after all
that has been said and written on the subject, it is
worth while to revive that controversy. There are
limits beyond which national courtesy cannot pass, and
when we are asked to acknowledge that an ordinary
act of national sovereignty, necessary for the due security
of our own commerce, was an offence against the
Americans to be expiated by apologies or payments
there cannot be much use in discussion. At all events, the
position of this country is satisfactorily defined. We have
simply to await the overtures, if any, which Mr. Motley
is instructed to make, and to consider the proofs he may
adduce that the rejected treaty would have necessarily
furnished an insufficient settlement. If his arguments be
ea cogent as to justify the rejection of a treaty, the fruit
of a long and laborious negotiation, in which almost every
proposal of his own Government was acceded to by ours.
then, and only then, we may fairly enter into a new
inquiry:

The Heroic/ calls attention to the good work just com-
pleted by Miss Burdett Couttain the East-end of London.
The opening of the new market for the poOr of that
swarming district will be a substantial boon. There would
be some difficulty in estimating the advantages thus con-
ferred upon a long-unfortunate population. It clears cut
and purifies a pestiferous locality; it creates decency
in the place of disgust and discomfort ; it elevates
the popular idea; and it establishes, for the humble
consumer, a source of wholesome and cheap supply.
More than all, it invigorates and stimulates the long
stagnant guart,:r.. These benefits, bestowed in a spirit so
judicionA au,l g€'ller4)ll3, will be apprcciated by all who
have witnessed the incessant conflict carried on between
the very roar of the metropolis and their tradesmen. But

thy rivalry ; it destroys the
pitiful molt ,;-oliea notori.us in low. ; it givcs ;
better tone both to credit anti to cet.nt;rny ; anti it acts a!
a check upon the ruinous system of OclArt incurred under the
apparently easy principle of weekly payments. In addition, it
gives to the population superior facilities for living. And
when, in combination with this, we bear in mind the
horrors that are abolished, and the squalor which is miti-
gated, bc.th. by the new lodging-houses and the new
market, we think v,-e are only expressing the public senti.
anent when We say that a debt of gratitude is due to Miss
Coutts which only the approVal of her owia
5cir,4005014 " ' ' • .

a. market intra,iacc3 a 1.