The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-04

masses OF representation that would have
been more entirely in sympathy with them,
it has this redeeming feature: 1t has kept
the politics of England more respectable
than in countries where the emoluments of
Office make politics a business profession;
and there is no denying the fact that the
house of commons is the first legislative
body of the earth-excepting always, of
course, the American Congress- But
Liberal victory means the changing of this.
True, the dispatches would lead US to be-
heve that the payment of mem
oers OF parliament is to be con-
fined to those who represent the
labor interests. But no matter. If this
step is taken it is impossible to prevent the
other steps being taken, which will place
English politics on basis of profession
or business, as it is in this country, and
demagogy will most likely increase, and
the great legislative body and high court of
England will not be long in losing some
thing of its aristocratic character.
The "mending or ending of the house of
lords is more radical change. 1t means
readjusting of the time honored tradition
commons. 1t means the destruction of
the legislative privileges of one of the es
tates of the realm. Mr.. GLADsToNE-hap-
PLY, we think, for the success of his party
says this issue IS in the shade at present,
and maaifesls disposition to leave it
there; but still warns the peers against
undertaking to defeat the will CT the ma
ton as expressed in the house of commons.
SALISBURY, some time ago in contemplating
the possibility of Liberal victory, took
occasion to say that if the commons
passed a home rule bill all would
not be over, as the house of
Lords might interpose itself between
the Judgment of the nation and the incor-
poration of that judgment in the form of
law. Mr.. GLADSTONE plainly tells the
peers that acting on that line would make
the very existence of the house of lords
burning question in current politics. Nor
LEY, even more aggressive than his grsat
leader, announces himself as ready-and
one may see that old sturdy JOHN is anxi-
Gus for the fray-to renew the agitation
against hereditary peers whenever the
party leadership pleases to let slip the dogs
OF war But in this the policy of Mr..
GLADSTONE is the wiser as it touches more
nearly than any other question the tradi-
tional constitution of England and as the
affections of that people are interviewer
with their constitution, to precipitate that
question might lose them the victory which
now seems to be theirs.
All these reforms down on the Liberal
n will ~ ha;,
rule will be given to Ireland; the Welsh
church will be disestablished; members of
parliament will be salarled and English as
American politics will become a pro-
fession, but whether it will result in the
betterment of parliament may only be
learned by the experiment; local option
with high license will settle the tempe
rance question SO far as legislation can
effect it; the elective franchise will be
extended until manhood suffrage shall pre-
vail; the house of lords will go and in time
even royalty viii follow it, and splendid
federation including nearly all English
colonies succeed the present British En-
pire. Such revolution may take one or
two generations, for our English cousins
are slow in working out revolution. They
do not accomplish it. like your French
man or Spaniard, in a week. But if
they are slow in these matters, they are,
nevertheless, sure, and when the change
does come, 1t comes to stay. Slowly as the
centuries have dragged their slow length
along, the English people by dint of pa
tent courage and perseverance have
wrested from the hands of arrogant Dan
ish and Norman conquerers and equally
arbitrary kings, their liberties. There have
been no backward steps taken, and that
goes far towards confirming US in the be,
lief that such will be the case in the
uture.