The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-06
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN LORDS AND
COMMONS.
From, the y. Y. Times.

tTOhl the ". i. Times.
We are now in possession of the full details
of the final struggle over the Irish Church
bill. which brought about temporary politi-
cal deadlock, and threatened at one time to
result in a serious constitutional crisis. And
although the telegraphic dispatches received
from time to time during the eventful three
days conflict embodied accurate accounts of
the proceedings in Parliament, and gave a
sufficiently correct impression Of the main
points of the situation, 1t is only on the arri-
val of the detailed accounts by mail that we
can now form clearer idea of the
actual importance of the affair, and
of the motives which actuated the peers
III rushing so hastily into con-
hict in which ultimate victory was manfestly
unattainable, and from which they had to re-
treat with such precipitation. In commenting
upon the accounts received by telegraph at
the time, we attributed the audacity of the
Tory peers to the unexpected reinforcements
which they had received from the ranks of
the old Whig aristocracy and from quondam
Liberal leaders like Lords Russell and Grey.
in consequence of which they tla tered them
selves that. in the event of q serious COLI
sion between the two houses they would not
at all events have to take the entire risk upon
their own shoulders. And we were
clearly correct in the supposition. As long
as it was merely numerical majority of the
House. all avowed Tories that were ready to
obey the behcsts of Lords Derby Cairns
and Salisbury, those leaders felt the danger
of committing their House to an unequal
struggle with the Commons on their own
| responsibility. Butwith an accession to their
forces from the Liberal side they cast aside
all the prudence that had previously marked
! their actions, and in the one short evenings
debate, after which they proceeded to so de-
cisive a vote, all their pent-up detestation Of
the measure of justice before them, and all
| their rancOrous personal hatred of Mr.. Glad
| stone, found full expression in the bitter and
insulting taunts of Lords Grey and Salisbury,
and the rapturous cheering with which they
were greeted. The Premier comparison of the
Lords to people who viewed events from a
balloon at too great a height for them to
| know or care much about them, had evidently
gOaded them into a reckless desire to assert
their power at whatever cost, and spite the
| obnoxious leaders of the Commons. But
| with the morrow comes the reaction-the
more timid Tories became alarmed-the
Cabinet was united, and the Liberal ma ajority
in the Commons was frm-and before their
Lordships met again the famous terms of
honorable surrender had been privately nego-
| tiated.
But although the crisis itself was of so
short duration and unproductive on first sight
of violent political commissions, its effects
! are likely to be permanent and serious.
During their brief moment of delirious tri-
umph the Tory Lords betrayed their con-
tempt for the popular WILL and their per-
sonal dislike of the great Liberal statesmen
Of the day, and an inordinate desire to pre-
serve their own and kindred privileges in
tact The country well knows the real tenn
per of one branch of its Legislature with re-
gard to matters in which the deepest inte-
rests are. The House of Commons has now
learned the necessity and the advantage of
insisting upon and guarding its rights De-
spite the amenities finally exchanged between
all parties concerned, the events we have
been considering cannot fail, it is supposed,
to have lasting effect upon the political
| future of Great Britain.