The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
Mr.. Gladstone on the British Consti-
tution.

The article published by Mr.. GLADSTONE
In the current number 81 the NbticenM Cen
tHy has for It's main theme strange para
dox, but IL raises indirectly an interesting
question The attempt to stigmntizc Brit
ish conservatives as the especial friends OF
Russia will doubtless provoke considerable
amusement In view OF recent events. On
the other hand, the charge that the vital
principle OF parliamentary government has
been endangered by the action of the pres
ent Ministry deserves serious attention.
The cX-Prcmier declares that, for some
years, n silent but active war has been car
red on In ministerial councils against the
British Constitution. He finds the proof Of
this assertion in the occupation and admin
istration OF new territories intended and l.
mitted to involve large military burdens
and In the recent assumption Of joint gov
ernlng rights under circumstances OF al
most hopeless difficulty, over a range Of tor
ritory which found room for several of the
greatest empires Of antiquity. He further
accuses Lord BEACoSsFIELD and his coad-
tutors of having Effected these things under
the cloak OF deliberate and careful Sc
crccy, with the evident design Of eX-
Guiding Parliament and the nation
from all influence upon the results.
Not only, he continues, has much been done
to withdraw the control OF the war and
treaty making powers from the House OF
Commons, but he aflirms that even It's ex-
elusive taxing privileges and its Legislative
powers have been gravcly encrpachcd upon.
This step was taken. IN his judgment when
tho revenues of India were made applicable
to the expenses Of the Afghan war, whereby
the Executive Government acquired abso-
Lutte authority over the extent and cost OF
operations in central Asia. Now, these are
startling accusations, and il It should APP
pear that the proceedings cited are not
justified by precedent, on have not been
ratified by the authentic opponents OF the
national will, then they would be tanta-
mount to a fragrant usurpation, and per-
ilous disturbance Of the civic machinery.
The truth Is, however. that neither tho
ratification Of the treaty 81 Berlin, nor tho
conclusion Of the AnSlo-Turkish convcn-
ton, nor the declaration TO the Amcer which
cntallcd the present contest, transccnlcd los
one iota the reserve powers belonging to the
Crown and its responsible advisors. There
is much misconception on this subject, even
in Great Britain, as was proved when the
Queen, at Mr.. GLADsToNE's suggestion.
abolished purchase in the army by royal
prerogative after the Lords had thrown
out the bill-a measure which nrous-
ed great and general astonish-
mcnt. But this, as Mr.. BAGEHoI
has shown, is nothing to what the Queen can
by law do without consulting Parliament.
For example. she could disband the army;
| for while, 10y statute, she is restrained from
cnlisting more than certain number OF
men, che is not obliged to engage any troops
at all. She could discharge all the sailors.
too, and sell Off every British ship of war,
together with all the naval stores. She
could make n peace by the sacrifice Of Corn
wall, and begin war for the conquest OF
Brittany; could create every citizen In the
United Kingdom male or female-a Peer
make every parish university" dismiss
most OF the civil servants, and pardon nll Of
Tenders. In n word, the Queen might. in
theory, by the operation Of her provocative,
upset all the action Of Government, disgrace
the nation by bad war or n shameful peace,
and by diebanding tho forces leave the
British Isles dclencelcss against q foreign
INVASION But, Of course, nobody appre.
lN0A'Ab oANI blpSS eAcceSi'S, iOI inc reason
that the British Constitution provides two
| sufficient che Ks against them. One is the
weapon Of impeachment, and it is certain
that any Minister who advised the Grown
so 10 use its privileges rs TO cndangor the
safety OF tho realm, would be impeachcC
! straiRhtway for high treason. This check
however, ~ not available against minoI
mistakes involving a mere error Of judg
mont; for such misusos OF tho royal pre-
rogatiye the remedy is q change of Minis
| Try. Now, in every one Of tho acts OBJ
| Icctcd to by Mr.. GLADSTONE, in every one
Of the alleged arbitrary steps vcnturcd by
| Lord BEACONsFlELD tho latter has incurred
this last penalty; he has risllcd his dis
mlssal. In the exercise Of the treaty-nak,
ing and the war-naking powers In the ac
| QUESTION of Cyprus, the creation Of British
| prOtect0rate in western ASIA and the dc
| spatch Of an ultimatum to the Amcer, the
present Ministry have kept strictly within
the lcttor Of established precedent. But or
the othor hand, it has been always open Il
tho House Of Commons TO arraign their dis
erection and renudlate their policy No on,
knows better than Mr.. GLADsToNE-indeeC
it would not be difficult TO find the express
! anlrmanee formulated In bis earlier writ