The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
Shorter ParIiaments for England.

Ever since the defence OF Turkish inter-
ests was undertaken by Lord BEACoNsFIELD,
1t has been standing charge on the part Of
English Liberals that the existing Ministry
do not represent the country The House
OF Commons was chosen before the Eastern
question entered on an acute phase, and the
majority Of its members no longer reflect,
We are told, the opinion OF their constitu-
ents. This assertion has naturally drawn
attention TO the duration OF Parliamonts,
and change OF the law in this respect is
loudly called for in many quarters.
The law by which the term OF a given
Parliament is fixed at seven years, unless
cut short by dissolution, Is one OF those stat
utes which once served obvious and import
ant ends, but which have outlived their use
fulness. The Septennial act, which has now
been enforced for mere than century and
a half was a shrewd device Of WALPoLEs
10 secure tho Hanoveriaa succession and
keep tho Wings In Office. That both objects
would be endangered by the superseded
custom Of triennial legislatures was so
evident that the most vehement assaults
on the new system during the greater
part Of the last century came from
the Tories. In 1892 however. the Wing
leaders, being in opposition, acclaimed on tho
corruption incident TO n long term OF Office,
and Insisted that the ancient course OF an
nually chosen Parliaments should be re-
stored Since that epoch both parties have
by turns pronounced the present state OF
things grave encroachmcnt on the rights
OF the people; yet each has found some pre-
text for its retention whenever it could be
turned to its own account. The most for
midable Of recent attacks upon this ac-
knowledged grievance was made soon after
the passage Of tho first Reform bill, when
MAcAULAY summed up tho arguments
against the Septennial act, and when only a
majority Of seven could be mustered against
its repeal. Afterward the matter was al
lowed for time to drop, although Mr..
BRIGHT more than once drew attention to
the silence Of successive Liberal ministries
upon the subject. But in the acrimonious
division OF opinion as TO the foreign policy
OF the present Government, the question IS
pressed with peculiar pertinence and vigor.
A system which tempts Ministers
rather to consult the wishes and in
terests OF an Intermediate body than
TO look directly TO the people. and
which, as JUNIUs pointed out, gives a
nations representatives six years for Of
fence and ono for atonement. has, happily,
never been accepted as a model. 1t is fact
that no other country in the world gives the
popular branch OF its Legislature so ex-
tended a lease Of power In France and
Italy the Chamber OF Deputies has dura-
tlon OF five years. and 30 has the Spanish
Cortes. On tho other hand. Portugal, Bel
GUM, Brazil, Greece, and the Netherlands
have limited the term TO three years, while
Germany Switzerland and the Scandina-
Wan States have adopted the tricnnlal sys-
tenn which prevailed in England during the
reigns Of WILLIAM III. and ANNE. The
British colonies all fix the life OF n given
Legislature at three or five years, while, as
Is well known, the period Is restricted to
two years by our Federal Constitution. 1t
is plain that the rest OF tho world has seen
cause to diyerge from its parliamentary
pattern and 10 account the technical ex-
pertncss Of their representatives far less
important than II keen sense OF accountable
ity and scrupulous fidelity TO the constitu-
ent bodies.
Besides tho Parliamentary experience
supposed to DO furthorcd by protracted
.,crm, and for which compensation Is pTacti-
cally furnished by the reelection of deserv-
ing men, there is really no argument for tho
septcnnial custom, except the alleged saw
ing OF expense. 1t is said that the cost OF
seat Is already heavy aud such burden
ought not to be imposed Mt frequent inter-
walls. But in all probability tho amount OF
money spent on an election under Trlen-
NAL act would not be larger than 1t is now
The office OF member would be worth less,
and there would be fewer great capitalists
to contest it. Not only would seat for
three years DO less coveted than ono for
seven, but in the case OF the latter extended
term 1t Is often question VI now Or never