New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-11
ENGLISH RADICALISM
Mr. LABOUCHERE'S SOFT WAY WITH TIE
LORDS AND THE PARKS.

Mr. Labouchere has had his Ged-day IN the
House of Commons, and has come within thirty-siX
votes-no; of abols sin ng the House of Lords but OF
resolving that it ought TO be abolished lie said
many true things against that ancient body, and
made many Jokes not all in the best taste. upon ITS
members They sit on their benches Ike sheep
says Mr.. Labouchere, aud vote like sheep. The
| nephew of the late Lord Taunton would not mind
this, dare say, were it not that they vote the
wrong way. When they have nothing to vote
wrong upon, they vanish like ghosts. They are
landlords and their interest. and will
not give the poor aborer three acres and Il COW.
Can any Land League be more perllicIOus than this,
queries the Radical who prefers to invest his own
large fortune in stocks and shares and even III a
weekly newspaper.
Mr. Gladstone met Mr. LaboucheTes resolution in
| a characteristic way. lie never voted, he said Tor
an abstract resolution unless there was n prospect
OF being able to follow up that resolution 10y action
Nor did he think this question winch onght TO he
dealt with peccmea!. The great Liberal IS still 50
much of n Conservative that he is not inclined TO
the total destruction OF the hereditary principle.
Beside if Won deal with the constitution OF the
House of Lords. yOu must deal with 1t seriously
word which perhaps conveyed to the III nd Of some
of his hearers an impression that Mr.. Gladstone
nav not regard the senior member for Northalnp-
ton as a serious politician.
To the majority of thoughtful politicians in this
country the real difficulties in the way OF abolish
ing the Lojds are chiefly two. First the question
how il is to be done The House OF Lords is one
branch of the Legislature; its consent WILL be ne
cessary to an Act OF parla nent for its own abolition
and by no measure less THAI an Act OF Parliament
can the proposed change in tie Constitution be
ELECTED 1t is Thought that the creation OF new
Peers to overcome a hostile majority IN the existing
| Oh, nb.r Str he ON n
To create "A great plumber OF new Peers expressly
in order to abrogate the legislative authority Of
the Peers would be perhaps the most vOlcn; thing
ever done. Tho second difficulty IS greater stiil.
hat is TO be put in place OF the existing House OF
I.ordsf Mr.. Labouchere, Mr.. Chamberlain and
| even Mr. John Morley, would escap tIis second
| difficulty by answering, Nothing. They do nOt
| want "A Second Chamber. They want Legislative
| Machine which can be run at high pressure, and
made to grind out the greatest number OF the most
radical measures IN the shortest time. They would
| regard with ImpatienCe and disgust such orderly
and deliberate methods OF Amending the Innda
| mental law of the country as arc prescribed
| bv the Constitution of the United States
| they want many reforms. Every popular impulse
Il to lind ts record on the Statute Book. II you de-
| lay, the impulse may pass. NO matter what the
| new impulse mag be- it must take shape an Act
| of Parliament at once; and Que Act OF Parliament
| is as good as another. The iiOnse Of Lords post
PONIES many measures. Its record OF opposition to
| measures OF reform IS a bat one; sweep 1t there
fore out of existence cry tie Radicals, and let us
| rush our measures, good or bad. through a single
| House and have done with them They are As
| much opposed TO elective as 10 a hereditary
second chamber. They think no better. OF little
| better OF the United States Senate than of the
| British House OF Lords. Away with every drag on
the coach the main thing IS To get to the bottom
| of the hill Mr. Laboucheres motion IL oaly one
more crack of he whip III the ears of an excited
team, already going at pace which cool observers
| might be disposed TO think dangerous Public
opinion, however III tins country Is not yet ready
| TO accept the French Convention decisive pre-
cedent Tie EngliShnan wants a Second Chamber
OF some sort and, in spite OF SIR. Labouclere and
his doce pupils in the new House OF Commons.
he House OF Lords, is likely to survive until some
better House has been invented to replace the pres
| ent hereditary body
| gThe vote against the London Parks which Mr..
Labouchere induced the House to give is Is piece OF
| reckless mischief. Mr.. LabJucheros argument Is
that the Parks are Ike up for the benefit of London
| and that London ought therefore to pay for them.
| That is just the OF argument which carries
| away An inexperienced body, many members of
which are not only inexperienced but ignorant 1t
may be that OIL "a revision of all the relations be-
| tween ondon AMI the Kingdom. 1t would be found
equitable that the ext ense of the Parks should be
| betrayed out OF municipal taxes That IS, at best,
doubtful. What is certain is that no serious legls-
ator would vote to cut oft supplies for the public
service from one source till tLey had been divided
from some other. Even Mr.. Labouchere does not
| wish 70 abolish Hyde Park. AZ place of fashion
able resort for the rich it may be hateful TO him
but it is also place of recreation and health f)r the
Door whom he parades as his clients. The Parks
Therefore ore to be allowed 10 exist But the logi
cal result oil the vote obtalned.by Mr.. Laboucherc
| would be TO turn them into waste spaces. If the
vote Of last Thursday stands, there Will DO no
money to pay for keeping up the Parks, and they
would become uncared-for conmOns-grass, roads
flowers, water trees and everything that makes
/ them beautiful would 90 rapidly to ruin. The Gov
eminent will not allow this, and the House Will
probably be INDUCED to rescnd It's vote, which, III
deed it would have assei but for the feeble
ness OF Mr. Childerss opposition to Dir. Labou-
cheres proposal But the House has shown clearly
enough of what levIty in legislation 1t Is capable.
Mr. LabOuchere in the position of leader OF the
House of Commons Mr. Gladstone gives rise to
com ncnt. not unnaturally Tie very nearly carried
his motion against Me Lords he did actually
carry his vote against the London Parks; he has
headed other successful attacks money votes and
other votes proposed supported by the Govern
meut The more sober part of the press criticlsea
I'M, leadership and crticses more sharply the
Of some sections Of the House 10 Nh
! Iabourhere's cratic guidance The less sober re-
| niles with a scream of exultaion, King Demos IL
sntbroned IL nay DO that he Is but IL is none the
less true that he has chosen singular, very sngn-
lar Prime Minister. Of Mr.. Laboucheros abilities
tbsrs 1, 10 oneston. but he Is Of the party whose