Milford chronicle., 1888-02-03

Authority to Change the Line Of Success
sion or to Abolish the SIonarchy-M eal.
ness Of the Upper House-why victoriu
Reigns in Peace.
had long talk the other day with a
prominent lawyer, who is n special friend
of the Prince of Wales. The LAWYER has
transacted great deal of business for the
prince lie has made a careful compara-
tive study Of English and American con-
stitutiOnal methods. He said that he
thought the strength Of the Prince Of
Wales with the people lay in the fact that
he carefully refrained from having any
thing to do with politics. Upon this line
of action depends" said he, ''the future
Of the monarchical system in England.
The queen will never be disturbed in her
lifetime in single one Of her prerogatives,
simply because she never dictates any
political policy or seeks in the slightest
degree TO influence the ministry. Tho
monarchy will endure in England until
there comes n king or ruler who shall seek
to take in his hands the reins of real
power Then you would see at once
prompt and decisive action by the house
of commons.
POWER OF THE HOUSE.
fThis house of commons TODAY is the
only responsible government for Great
Britain. This body has unlimited Dowers.
1t is not generally known in America that
the very best lawyers in England agree
that the house of commons alone has the
power to abolish the monarchy tomorrow
if it should see fit or to change the line of
succession. Parliament could, if it should
choose, eliminate the Prince of Wales
from the succession and pass it over to
one of his children, or transfer it entirely
to some other family. In the United
States your congress does not begin to
have the unlimited power and authority
of the house OF commons. To change your
constitution requires a two-thirds vote Of
the two branches Of congress and after
that approval by three-fOurths of the
states. This Is a very long road. and.
naturally, changes are made much more
slowly with you than is possible with us.
Now everything is quiet and passing along
well. The people do not object to the
system here because it works
very well. 1t has been reduced simply to
a show figure, and you know how we
hold on to ceremonies and
traditions. Royalty now is nothing but a
tradition.
4The house Of lords will be the first body
to feel the effect of modern progress in
Great Britain. Undoubtedly the public
mind is slowly but surely forming against
the rights of hereditary sittings in the
upper house. The majority of the members
Of this body are without doubt cultivated,
we'll bred gentlemen. Among them are a
lew black sheep, and their blackness is
made much more conspicuous by their
having become social outlaws from a high
md conspicuous order. When once they
all they are like women who have lost
heir social position. When one considers
heir surroundings, their wealth, their en-
orced idleness and the tremendous aduIa-
ion which surrounds them everywhere
hey go, it is u wonder that they remain
IS respectable and good as they are. But
he fact still remains that talent is not II /
necessity hereditary. The children of |
,reat men are nearly always weaker than |
heir fathers. The first places in the peer-
ige are won through ability or special /
ervice. When that position passes to the
on it often passes to a weak and incom-
'etent man. If the peerage were not
trenethened constantly by the presence
n the house Of lords OF the law lords. the
bishops who come up through merit or
bility in the church and through dis
inguished service in the house of COM
mons, the body would soon sink into home
ess intellectual inferiority. These new
ecruits save it to certain degree, but
he body as a whole is, in a legislative
ense, weak.