The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-07
FRIDAY, MAY z, 1869.
1TFE pEERAGES IN THE BRITISH
NAN PARLIA MENT

PARLIAMENT.
Ar. British writers concede, and many deplore,
the decline of the influence of the House of
Lords in public affairs It's debates spirltless
and Hfeless and the active politicians of the
United Kingdom regard the honors of the peer
age as the last refuge of disappointed ambition.
The Whig party, which Is usually powerful in
the House of Commons, is always in minority
in the House of Lords, but the latter generally
sanctions its measures, provided they are not too
radical not from any sincere approval of their
wisdom or earnest desire to keep pace with the
progress of the age, but because "sop to Ger
Acrus" is deemed polite, and because it is con-
>idered best on the whole, to acknowledge, with
IA show of gracefulness, such rights of the people
as can no longer be safely withheld. AS Lord
Brougham begged on his knees the assent of the
House of Lords to the old Reform bill, so, from
time to time, the pity, the fears, or the selfish
ness, rather than the reason or the judgment, of
that arstocratic body have been appealed to
to gain their approval of the action of the House
of Commons. The fierce conflict of opinions,
the stern debate the solid argument, the rigid
and thorough Investigations which characterize
the proceedings of the popular branch of the
British Parliament, rarely or never startle the
peaceful slumbers of the hereditary peers.
Having little real business to do, the attendance
of these luxurious legislators is very irregular
They often wander over the Continent, or enjoy
placid repose for years on their estates, without
ever appearing in their allotted seats. They
acknowledge no responsibility to any constitu-
ency; they are never called to account at the
hustings; they have no rivals to fear; and they
have no incentives to eXertion except when
their vanity is tickled their sluggish blood
ViVifed by the hope of gaming real power
through the exercise of potent influence upon
the proceedings of the House of Commons
In the age when the world was dazzled
by mere show, and when the outward
semLlance of authority made deep i'm
press upon uncultivated imaginations, few Eng
lish eyes were undazzled by the splendors of
ducal coronets, but men ask now rather what
Jewels are enshrined in the brains of those who
aspire to rule than what tinsel trappings en-
circle their brows. AS n practical result the
Queen wields less positive influence over the
management of British affairs than vigorous
untitled parliamentary orator, and the opinions
of the whole House of Lords are often of less
practical Importance than the views cherished
by a Golden, Bright, or a Gladstone.
From time to time various modes have been
suggested for restoring to the House OF Lords
some of it's ancient glory, and the belief is
totally abolished as useless, antiquated clog
upon the wheels of governmental machinery
Partly in Difference to this sentiment Earl Rus
sell has introduced proposition for the creation
of limited number of life peerages. This mea'
sure has attracted much attention, but 1t contem'
plates such partial and insignificant reform
that its chief Importance arises from the fact
that any change whatever in the composition o1
such a conservative body could be for one
moment entertained. The progressive London
journals complain that as reform bill it will be
useless, except as forerunner of better things
to come. The whole number of life peers
is to be limited to twenty-eight, and
they are only to be appointed Mt
the rate of four year for the next seven years.
The field of selection is also restricted, and the
proposed new peers must be either persons who
have sat in the House of Commons for ten
years men eminent in art, science, or literature,
Scotch and Irish peers, soldiers, sailors, judges,
or colonial officials The old members of the
House of Lords who desire to perpetuate the
present sleepy system have little to fear from
this mild innovation. The new life-blood is to
be infused at too slow rate, in TOO small a
quantity, and from classes too much predisposed
TO conservatism, to seriously disturb the equani-
nifty of the drowsy drones of the aristocracy
What the wing party really neeus, IL IL 10 tno
roughly earnest in its professions o
liberalism, is a strong band of sturdy
orators to beard the lion OF Toryisn
in its den, and to thunder the liberia
doctrines which are disseminated by the press il
the ears of the men whose blood has flowed TO
centuries through the veins of descendants O
the followers of William the Conqueror. 1t ma
get a few recruits under the proposed new sys
tenn, but not enough effective champions t.
leaVen the dull mass of conservatism How
ever, British progress is always slow; it require
many years of agitation to effect in Englan
changes which are readily adopted in this coun
try after very brief consideration; and it may b
easier, after a few life peers have been created
to increase their number, than to secure tn
passage of proper reform bill at the outset.
the young Tories become inspired with the amb
ton to Vindicate, in debate, before the world, tn
Justice and wisdom of a perpetuation OF the
prerogatives, they may hereafter be induced
acquiesce gracefully in the presence OF a su
ficient number of progressive orators to ensu
a continual succession of lively debates, and 9
intellectual conflict that will interest not on
the British public but the whole civiliz'
world.
"TAKEN ABACR."
Tuu IaOislature of the State OF New Y Ork