Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-24

TIE ENGLISH ELECTIONS.
Mr.. GIadstone's Thorny Path-True Post
ton of the Honss of Lords.

To he Editor of ne DlsDdtea:
Permit me. Mr.. Editor, TO congratulate
you on having shown in your article in
Sundays DIsPArCHa clearer appreciation OF
the results of tho English elections than |
have seen in any other journal in the coun-
try. You do not in the least exaggerate
the difficulty of the position of Dir. Glad
stone. a position which even he, an old
parliamentary band" as he has styled him
self. will find it, l believe, beyond bis
power to overcome. Notwithstanding
his appeals to the sectarian and class-preiu-
dIces Of tho different elements of society.
in England, Scotland. and Wales he has
been ANONYMOUSLY defeated by the votes
of the people of these, the greatest and
wealthlest sections of the British Isles.
With majority of 40 only in the House OK
Commons 1t is a difficult task for any Mn
lister to carry through any measure, but
especially a measure so nearly touching
the integrity Of the British empire as
would a home-rule bill for Ireland. II,
however, this be possible, the Bouse Of
Lords would undou btedly exercise its pre-
scriptive right to remit the question once
more to the people. Notwithstanding Mr..
Gladstone's threat TO " end or mend" that
house if 1t should dare to interfere with
his will.
TRUE POSITION OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
And here, Mr.. Editor. would like. with
your permission, to point out the true
position of the House of Lords in the
English Constitution, as that position
seems to be greatly misunderstood here.
The three estates OF the healm-Queen
Lords and Commons are In the British
Islands supreme over all courts and sub
iects when acting conformity in Parlla-
ment. They make and unmake the
constitution of the country as seems
best under the varying circumstances
of the times, and though techni-
cally the Crown has the power OF
veto over any measure whlch may
be passed by the two houses, OF Par
lament. yet as a fact this power has never
been exercised by the present Queen or by
her predecessor, the late King. This being
the casesthe sole protection OF the Consti-
tuition and people from rash and hasty
LEGISLATION is with the House of Lords, and
In the wisdom with which IL has exercised
this power at least during the present
reign rests much or the popularity or that
House.
ALWAYS BEEN sAT1sFIED.
The people have always been satisfied
with the exercise OF the veto power by
body so largo as the House OF Peers, and
one drawn so largely from the people as is
the present house. Out of ABOUT $50 men,
bers of the peerage composing the House
of Lords, nearly 200 have been created
during the reign of the present Queen,
and these have been drawn from tho best
and ablest in the land, not representing
merely wealth but intellect and force
of character, as witness the latest creations,
which are fair sample OF tho whole: LORD
Roberts, the great Indian general; Lord
KslyIn. who, as Sir William Thomson, is
known the world over as a great scientist
and electrician, and Lord Cromer, who, as
Sir Evelyn Barring, the representative OF
England in Egypt, has evoked order OUT
of chaos in that ancient land and relieved
the toiling fellaheen Of the country from
unremittln2 and unrewarded labor, ana
given him once more an interest," anu
stake in the prosperity OF MS lana.
HEEDs TIE WILL OF THE NATION.
I could name scores Of others Of like
eminence and position, who have been
called to that House within the present
reign and whose presence there gives the
neople confidence in the exercise of veto
mon the hasty action OK House of Com
mons when led by such an impetuous and
| chanpeable leader as Mr.. Gladstone. But
| even this House of Lords so constituted.
| has never refused to give heed to the
clearly-expressed will OF the nation
when pronounced upon any mea;
sure definitely submitted to 1t. All
that it has claimed and does claim
| is tina. the measure itself snail
be before the people and not merely some
| abstract resolution or idea as was the case
| during the last elections. Should Mr..
| Gladstone be more fortunate than he was
| in 1886 and persuade the House of Com
| mons 10 accept his home-rule bill, which
| he failed to do in that year, al
| though he had nominally a larger ma
| jority than he now has. then the
House of Lords may rightly and no
doubt will refuse to pass the measure
until the people have voted yea or nay
upon the actual bill itself. Ii tho result o.
| such a vote should be IN favor OF the bill
then the House. following precedent and
guided By the good Judgment OF ITS iead,
| ers. will no doubt accept the measure AND
send 1t 10 the Crown for signature.
IN HARMONY WITH POPULAR GOVERNMENT.
Sucn veto ON hasty legislation seems
to be much more in harmony with sys
| tenn Of popular government than one II
which the veto power IS vested IN and ex
the consequences Of such legislation are
controlled by court superior In powel
| to the law-making authority ITSELF
think il the people rightly understand the
position which IS taken BY the House o.
| Lords they will see that il is body exer
cising a most benefcent power, analogous
to that exercised by the Senate and Su
preme Court in this country, and VII
therefore readily believe that the. Englisl
people will hesitate long before they com
pass its destruction. even though by %
with tho qualification of the ambition ever
of MIR. Gladstone.
Yours truly, j. Il. JACKSON
|