The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-25
A LACK OF REVERENCE.
Justin McCarthy's Views the Utility az
the House Of Lords.

Justin McCarthy's Views the Utility ak
the House Of Lords.
New York Times
Justin Mccarthy spoke last evening TO tia
members of the Nineteenth Century Cluo'on
'aThe English Parliament" "The House OF
Commons he said Sat present is undoubtedly
a representative body We have of late m0sk
admirable laws in force, with the strictest regard
to any manner OF bribery and corruption IN sh0
election of member of Parliament. We have
some improvements to make as regards the vot-
ing power Of the people of England. but at pres.
emit the House of Commons represents thaA
people.
''You will ask how with the powers of tho
House of Lords, can E civilized country get on as
als ] can explain. You all remember how DIR.
Primrose, in the Vicar of Wakefield used to
give to his children gold piece rs present on
the condition that they never changed the gold
piece spent any of the money Well we now
leave to the House of Lords their tremendous
constitutional power on exactly that condition
They have the right to veto every measure
passed by the House of Commons on the condl
ton that they don't attempt the absurdity OF eK-
ercising that right. They have very seldom
tried to do that within recent years. The last
occasion was some twenty-five years ago, when
Lord Palmerston was Prime Minister / don't
suppose it is likely that in our days they will do
anything of the kind again The House or
Lords will probably not be factor in the busi-
ness of English legislation any more.
"a man is looked upon as lost to business or
q
in the languor and obscurity of the House OF
Lords. With the gradual crumbling away OF
authority and power from the House of Lords,
there must come a decay in the qualities which
political controversy requires and calls out. I
often wonder how man like the Marquis OF
Salisbury must feel in the languor and dullness
of the House of Lords. / wonder how often ha
must look back with regret and yearning to tho
days when ne was Lord Robert Cecil The
House of Lords is becoming withered arm in
the legislation of England There is only one
single man in that assembly who could by any
possibility be called an orator. and that man is q
bishop of the Episcopal Church The bishops
sitting in the House of Lords look like a crowd
of strong minded women who have found their
way into the wrong place. We are so busy Ia
England, however. that we really have no time
to trouble about the House of Lords. There is
no active interest whatever felt in the subject"
Mr. Mccarthy said that change must be
made in the House of Commons. At present
measure might be defeated by majority OF
votes, when. nevertheless, there was majority
of voters in it's favor. This might sound like
paradox. 1t was instanced in Gadstones home
rule bill, and was accounted for by the fact that
wealthy men who owned land in different couu-
ties had several votes
"We are greatly hampered," said Mr.. McCar-
thy, Sin the House of Commons, by the way in
which we must mention names We cannot al
lude to Mr.. Jones or Mr.. Brown. We must speak
OF the honorable gentleman, and the place from
which he comes. If he is lawyer we must say
my honorable and learned FRIEND; if soldier
he becomes my honorable and gallant FRIEND
if the son of peer, my noble friend;' if mem.
Der of the Privy Council, my right honorable
and learned friend It is very puzzling to the
most fluent speaker. He gets waterlogged By
these difficulties Laughter. / wonder Il
Cicero or Demosthenes could have been eloquent
if he had had to struggle with these difficulties.
We are nothing If we are not antique. Every
night now in the House of Commons man calls
out, Who goes homer because years and years
han moi cnfn RI wall
House of Commons, parties used to he made up
to go home together. The House of Commons
now is in the business part of London. in the
midst of houses, omnibuses and policemen.