, 1881-08-07

!
The action of the British House OF Lord
in amending the Irish Land bill may result
| i'll bringing about iii excitement i1l England
which will buelc no gouu tu that body o
| hereditary legislators. The House Of Lord;
hus so amended tile Land bill as passed by
the Commons that lis whole effect and pllr-
| pose has been defeated, anu i'll some vital
| particulars absolutely changed. To these
amendments Mr.. Gladstone anu his Ministry
will never submit, anu when the bill is re-
turned to the Commons that body will
promptly reject the amendments. The bill
will be returned to the Lorls, and thea the
direct question will be presented, Will the
Lords adhere" to or "rccetle" from their
amendments: The landed interest, incluu-
ing all the Tories and many Of the Wliigs.
nave, OIL these amendments, shown al aver
age majority Of LOO votes. How many will
brave public opinion by peEslstently refusing
concurrence with the formally and repeat
cdly declared will of the Commons re-
mains to be seen, but that a majority
will ut first vote to ''adllcrc;' to The anellti-
nlcnts is most probable. What then, in such
case, can the Ministry do? If defeated in
they can dissolve Parliament and appeal to
the people ut u new election, lis DisraeE did
less than two years ago. But Ill case of a
defeat b] the House OF Lords other meas
nres must be rt.sorted to in order to secure
to the Co2,1nons the right to govern.
The preceents in this line Of British par
liamentary conflicts are few, the Lords rare-
ly pushing things to the last extremity. 4
memorable case occurred during tho reign Of
William LII. The king had made Il distri-
blttlol! of the Irish estates forfeited to lin,
anu had granted them to several OF his Dutch
friends. The Commons were indignant, anu
proceeded BY law to change the distribution.
This bill WIS anlcndcd by the Lords; when
body unanimously rejected the ancnd-
1ncnts and then tackled to the bill
the Supply bill, and sent the united
bills back t" tho Lords. The Lords resented
this proceedin. because it compelled them
to accept the whole hill without amy amend
mcnt. The controversy lasted long time,
and the greatest excitement prevailed
England. At last the decisive
hour arrived. 3lacaulay in his history says:
Tho general feeling WIS In favor OF the bill.
1t was rumored tLat tho majority ich il,l de-
trrmiiicd 10 stand by the amendments had been
il!ee'tinatc SONS Of Charles H., md several
needy and greedy courtiers. Tile cry in all tho
public places uf resort that the nation would
be r'ilued ny the three Ds. bishops, Basturds,
aul BegEars.
On Wednesday. the 10Th Of April, there
was conference Of the two Houses, but it |
failed. The King himself had weakened,
and had suggested that it was best to pass I
Llle bill as the less Of two evils. Finally, The
Lords divided OIL the Question that thu House |
- adhere" to its amendments; the vote was
[orty OIL each side, and, under the rules
''hat Is not carried BY 4 majority is lost
Another vote w;s taken ON tile question that
he Lords agree to the bill without amend
Ae11ts. This was the decisive yotc that WIS /
o announce Il surrender on the part Of the
Lords, or perhaps Il civil war The Arch
bishop and four other Bishops ut tile last o-
:ielit rose from their seals and left the
louise: the Lords surrendered. and the bill
vas passed.
Another precedent Of conflict between
he Lords aud Commons grew out Of the fall
Il Maf1oorougl,, by the secret treaty of peace
et"cen Ffalice and England. lie returned
u England aud lie induced the House of
lords to dcnrllnce tile peace. Tile Com
Aons. tile Queen, 2xl ;.:a people, however.
'ere tired Of the W.. Tie Wings had, in
~, Il nlajority of the Lords. but this 1n:,-
2rlfy was overwhelmed by the Tory Minis
ry creating twelve new Tory Peers. That
'aS notable Instance Of the power of the
1at3r 3rr,1 /