The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-19

ness oil the upper mouse why 'h''"i"
Eeicns IN Peace.
had n long tall; the other day WITH a
prominent lawyer. who IS a special lriehd
Of the Prince Of Wales. The lawyer has
transacted a great deal Of business Tor TIE
prince. He has made q careful COMPARE
tive study Of English and American con-
stitu;ional methods. He said that he
thought the strength Of the Prince Of
Wales with the people lay in the fact that
he carefully RETAINED 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 a single one Of her prerogatives,
simply because she never dictates any
political policy or seeks In tie slightest
degree TO influence the ministry. The
monarchy will endure in England until
there comes q king or ruler whoshall seek
to take in his hands the reins OF real
power. Then You would see az nee
prompt and decisive action by tie house
Of commons.
POWER OF THE HOUSE.
This house Of commons today 8 the
only responsible government for Great
Britain. This body has unlimited powers.
1t is not generally known in America that
the very best lawyers in England agree
that the house Of commons alone has the
owe to abolish the monarchy tomorrow
if Il should see fit or 10 change the line q
succession. Parliament could, if L should
choose, eliminate the Prince Of Wales
from the succession and pass it over 10
one OF his children. or transfer il entirely
10 some other family. In the United
States your congress does not begin 10
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
monarchial system here because it works
very well. 1t has been reduced simply 70
a show figure, and you know how we
Englishmen hold On to ceremonies and
traditions. Royalty now is nothing buta
tradition.
THE house o lords VIII 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.
well bred gentlemen. Among them arc a
few black sheep, and their biackness is
n.ola much mora TnnEnfc1q1TE Ia. thor
having become social outlaws from a high
and conspicuous order. When once they
fall they are like women who have lost
their social position. When one considers
their surroundings, their wealth, their en-
forced idleness and the tremendous adula-
ton which surrounds them everywhere
they 60, it Is a wonder that they remain
as respectable and good as they are. But
the fact still remains that talent is not Il
a necessity hereditary. The children Of
great men are nearly always weaker than
their fathers. The first places in the peer
age are won through ability or special
service. When that position passes TO the
son 1t often passes TO a weak and incom-
petent man. If the peerage were not
strengthened constantly by the presence
in the house Of lords Of the law lords, the
bishops who come up through merit or
ability in the church and through dis.
tinguished service in the house Of COM
mons, the body would 500 sink into hope
less intellectual inferioriJy. These new
recruits save it 60 a certain degree, but
the body as a whole is, in a legislative
sense, weak.
WEAKNESS or u LORDS.
'This intellectual inferiority and lack
of legislative character constitute the chief
source for the popular prejudice against
tie present ~prerogatiyes OF the house Of
lords. In other words, this body is I'M
able to protect itself through lack OF
ability. The house Of lords to-day is alb
solutely powerless against the house Of
ommons upon any legislative question OF
the slightest importance. In the United
States the senate, or the upper house, Is
really the stronger body. Ina contest te-
tween the two houses in your country the
house nearly always has to recede. Here
the house of lords always rccedes If the
matter is of enough importance for the
house Of commons to assert itself. The
utmost that the house Of lords can do Is
to cause a slight delay which will give the
house Of commons time for q second
thought. If the house of commons reas-
serts its original position then the house
Of lords opposition always falls. The
house Of commons is made up Of the
strongest men in Great Britain. They
reach their places through fierce competi-
ton for the sufHrages Of the people. The
result is that their debates are the only
ones In which :he public take any inter-
est. The sweeping changes which have
taken place in Great Britain in the last
ten or fifteen years in the extension OF
suffrage further strengthens and popular
ICES this all powerful body. With this
house the question Of future royalty lies"
GLOW do you account for the fact that
the English people, forming one Of the
most virile and independent OF civilized
nations, should be content 10 be ruled
ever nominally by q woman; and, second,
how do you account for the fact that they
who have q strong prejudice against for.
eigners should consent to be ruled by q
line Of foreigners" His reply TO this was
very pertinent and direct. Il had better
answer the second part Of your question
first said he. 1T Is true that there is