The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-25
Observation-Disclosures
The Fiction Of the Address from the
Throne in English Politics,
A Nice Scapegrace in the House Of lords
The Present Cabinet Preparing for Pos
sible Observation-Disclosures Affairs.
Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Feb I'm her Maiesys own
words" Such is the constitutional stipulation
in regard to the Queens speech at the opening
of each new session of Parliament Il is a ic-
ton, however, for, as everybody knows, the eff
fusion is always composed by the Lord Chancel-
Tor, subject to approval by the the Prime Minis
ter and his cabinet The Queen this week in
dorses the policy of Gladstone. Not long ago
her annual fulminations had Tory ring in
them, and if a change of ministry required it,
she would, with the utmost complacency, become
a Tory again tomorrow. She is most accommo-
dating in this respect. She has to be, for the
ministry represent the people and the people
here, or at least those of them who vote, are
the real rulers of the country. Still the deluson
is kept up, MY lords and gentlemen" being an
nually reminded that they are listening to an ad-
dress in the Queens own words. l suppose, if
her Majesty should happen to get her back up
over anything, this provision would mean some
thing. Technically it gives her the right to say
what she pleases. She might seoldlike terma
giant if she chose and there have been instances
where English sovereigns have awaited them
selves of this sweet privilege. But Victoria is
gracious to her people, whatever she may be to
the members of her household, and it is not like
ly, so long as supplies are voted, and the dear
children and grandchildren properly provided
for that she will kick up any fuss, or cease to be
as yielding clay in the hands OF her ministerial
potters.
The speech from the throne meets with differ
ent treatment in the upper house from that
which it gets in the lower chamber. The oppo
sition in the latter body invariably try to inn
peach it. That is, on the motion ''that a humble
address be presented to her Majesty in reply
they present an amendment attacking some
feature of the governments policy and petition
ing the Queen to not listen to the counsels that
have been given her. The carrying of such an
amendment would imply that the ministerial
course was not supported by the House, and
those in power would at once throw up the
sponge In the Lords it is a little different.
That body has similar privileges to the House
of Commons, and being overwhelmingly Con
sentative, it could do no end of mischief if their
lordships were TO take the bit in their teeth.
But they stand themselves so near to the throne
that cut of respect to the fiction that the speech
is lin her Majestys own words, they let it pass
in reply without division. 1t would indeed be
strange sight to see the peers placing them
selves in antagonism to royalty, though those
who love consistency will think it equally
strange, ON the other hand, that their lordships
should be possessed of such elastic conscences''
for the policy which they have now formally in
dorsed they fought tooth and nail during the
recess, nor did they hesitate to use the strongest
and even vilest terms in trying to
heap odium upon the authors of
this policy. John Bright said recently
that the higher the position of the Conservative
orator the less scrupulOus was he in making
charges against his opponents and, when the
rank of a marquis or duke is reached the eli
max of all bitterness might be looked for Earl
Granville touched upon the same point in his
reply on Tuesday to the Marquis of Salisbury.
He had counted up, he said, fifteen of the
strongest epithets in the English language.
which the Marquis and his friends had lately
used against her Majesty's government. That
list, however he added, was not complete, since
1t omitted the phrase about Mr.. Gladstone being
an arch traitor.
THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.
Speaking of dukes, 1 have not yet heard of the
Duke of Marlborough taking his seat in the
upper house. He succeeded to the title upon
the death of his father, last summer, having
previously been known to fame (ill-fame, rather)
as the Marquis of Blandford. The London Fl
caro-, which often speaks with more force than
elegance, published a scathing article upon this
gentleman some time ago. TO show the kind of
men who occasionally find their way into the
hereditary Chamber, which is supposed to be
the great bulwark of religion and morality in
this country may give few extracts from
this article. Having referred in complimentary
terms to the former duke, then just dead, this
writer says; 1T is deeply to be regretted that
to him succeeds an individual who, instead of
being an honor to his order, is disgrace to it,
and instead Of being Il fine specimen of the
aristocracy of his country has done all that
could be done by one person to bring the aristoc-
racy into contempt" For dukes" continues
the editor ''as well as the sons of agricultural
laborers, there is, in this world at all
events, the contingency of amendment
The Duke of Marlborough may yet atone
for the conduct which made the name
of the Marquis of Blandford infamous. He may
yet live to enjoy the friendship of pure women
and the respect of high-minded men. He may
yet win the acknowledgement thatnew response
bilities changed the whole current of his life.
The task is not impossible, but it will not be
easy; the place of repentance will not be found,
though he seek it carefully with tears, unless
the memory of the years of vice and shame is
wiped out by years of well doing" AS to the
political leanings Of the duke, the article
says: ut is dueHo both political parties to say
that neither has shown any disposition to in
clude him within ~ ranks. The Conservatives
did not desire to retain him; the Liberals did not
wish to possess him. 1t is the misfortune of
the latter Chat he enrolled himself on their side"
For the facts underlying this singing arraign-
ment we must turn to the divorce court The
case was on last winter. 1t was a most aggra-
waited one the titled creature upon whom his
favors had been lavshed being married. and her
husband having connived at theintimacy, while
the outraged wife of the Marquis, who had done
all she could to cure him of the infatuation. was
could bear no more. and had to seek legal relief
from her bondage. This nobleman is now the
patron of thirteen church livings. He is, more
over, in receipt of an annual pension from the
government of $4,000 a year for something
which the first Duke of Marlborough did in