New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-29

DisroaI What he wants is to have this dead ques-
to-, b,,riod and 90 to work on something else that
has \ chance of life in it, What was absolutely es-
seutial to be said and done by him az Iory iciuei'
he said and did, but beyond that nothing lie oven
- .I.a,, concurrent ., IT. Almost the only
ut o,nositian IN Sir Roundcll Palmer,
w. Los srrt bieT for the time in fanati
coI devotion T. Ircn, but who has rot carried
o,,er q sipaJo himself to reinforce tue
Tory ranks. ~.
Mr. Gladstone carried every division by majorities
decisive enough to convince the Lords that they will
be final-if indeed, anything can convince them
They have committed in the last three weeks nearly
every bunder which it is possible for legislative
body representing only a class and holding power
only bv suirance TO commit. They first threatened
and in private resolved to reject the iDlh absolutely
on the second reading. The announcement OF Vhcir
purpose provoked a storm before which they pUh''
tbeir resolve melted away and the second reading
was conceded They thereby became pledged 10 the
princple of the bill but they disregardcd te peusc
and attacked the principle in numDerIesS lhsIuious
amendments These they debated at lehg'h' ana
while showing that rhetorical culture Which
belongs to the privileged lew euuca'eu
a., ovnorso of the many, they
sLo,vod on inter lack of political wisdom.
leaders were divided on questions of policy and the
Tory majority showed itself incapable of following
any one of them steadily From time to time they
shifted their ground, until it became evident that
+bcr oninions had no fixed basis, and that their de-
cision on any point was mere matter OF chance
Tn their greed of money they did not scrupo TO lay
hands on the whole surplus left by the original DILL
They almost completely rcGndowed the Church OF q
minority out of public money. If they would have
contented themselves with moderate increase on
the sum granted by the Commons, they could nave
had il without much difficulty. But their grasping
avarice their contempt for public pledges, ana thcH
open defiance of the people awOke feeling otreSeht
ment and indignation that could not be stiiied' All
over the country the people came together IN great
assemblies. With one voice they protested against
the plundering usurPations OF the Lords, ana ell
treated the Government and the House of Commons
to stand firm. All this was tho doing OF the Lords
themselves and it is they who made it impossible for
Mr.. Gladstone to make single important concession
There was reason to fear that the amendments would
have impaired the Bill without exciting wide
spraad opposition. There was danger that on ques-
tions of detail the majority the Commons might
60 to pieces. There always latent peril arising
out of Mr. Gladstones lifelong ecclesiastical aiec-
tions. There was in q word every advantage on the
side of the Lords, had they but known how to play
their game. They flung it away with the winning
cards in their hands So far as the Irish Church bill
is concerned the Lords have done nothing to help 1t
in the matter of money; they-and among them the
Bishops above all-have done much to lower It's
authority, and impair its future influence as yolun-
tary organization.
Nor is this all. They have once more raised the
question as to their authority and usefulness as
| a Legislative Body. When collision seemcdimmin-
ent a month ago, that question was asked little
timidlv. and was put to silence for time by their
pronpt retreat. But when it became evident that
they had again invited conflict, again the minds OF
people were turned away from the merits OF the Bill
to the dement's of the Lords This time the discus
sion begins in a quite different tone Journals which
used to be almost deferentia have almost ceased TO
be decorous in the vvacity of their criticisms upon
body which twice in single session has cOntiyed to
challenge inquiry whether there is any valid excuse
! for its existence. "Tho Lords have shown them
selves uniformly wrong all the great ques-
tons of the day for the last thirty
years, and the consequence has been that
the country has been deprived of the benefit Of It's
own reason and common sense.' That is a historical
statement not to be cOnfuted But the Same journal
one of the most influential in England-goes on TO
put this dreadful question "TO what purpose is
the nation wise or strong, or generous if 400 men,
not selected for any personal qualifications whatever,
but designated merely by the accident of BIRTH may,
by virtue of privileged position annul all that the
nation resolves ~ And this journal, liberal, yet
| distinguished for moderation, concludes by saying
that "1he Peers are continually reminding us
that they less enlightened less public spirited
than the country, and of the first reforms which
public opinion is likely to demand is Reform of the
| House of Lords Our affairs have been
bedeved long enough" Such declarations
as that, coming from many journals, repeat
ed in private life and reinforced by the resO-
lutions of numerous great meetings are significant
enough one would think to attract attention and
secure belief even in the Lords. Yet there is to-day
as there was month ago. strong party-a major
ity, as far as wishes go-for continued resistance.
| There are plenty of nobemen with DO noble virtue
but courage for whom the old cry of NO Surrender
has an irresistible fascination. They are for con-
fict next week. heartily wish they might succeed
in bringing If on, but they will not The instinct of
sefpreservaon will prove too strong and the Lords
will keep us waiting little longer for the final
form which will clear them out of the way.
q. W. 8.