The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-06

The decision. therefore, in favor Of the
home rule, II there has heer such drcls-
ION, has been given by T65 electors ont OF
an electorate Of 4.spo.ooo. Since the de-
clsion Of the E8rengeSter contest that num-
Der has been reduced 10 7Cg3.
l only consider these figures OF inror-
tsnce as bearing on the question Of st2oiI-
ity. In regard 70 ordinary affairs, the
passage Of new laws or changes Of minis
try, small majority may merely mean
the probability Of reversing vote al some
early date. The inconvenience involved
are Of secondary kind: bat in regard 10
fundamental Iaws--ssp ecially those w aich
10 large masses OF men answer the tageiui
question, oy whom shall we be ruled
the case is very different. The con-
slant expectation OF reversing the
last decision, cherished by each
struggle scarcely falling short of civil war.
The constitutions OF other countries which
| have cited seem TO me, therefore. 30 have
been guided by wise foresight in requir-
ing for constitutional revision such ma
jority as should record. without the posi-
Dility of question, the deliberate resolve of
the great mass Of the community. Does
the most sangulue Radical expect that the
U.sternen wouid ever accept the vote Of
703 electors scattered over England and
Scotland as q sufficient warrant for sur
rendering them forever TO the good pleas
IRE Of Archbishop Walsh and has party7
IL will be replied that even ii our ar
rangements do not look well on paner be-
side the mstared and careful precautions
of other democratic counties, yet that We
have done well enough with them. and
that II has never been our way To aim at
the scientific precision of other constitu-
tons. We are raIb her proud of our illogi-
Cal institutions. Ii We attain to results
which are practically satisfactory with
.Egxsg "a - anba
ment is looked on as a proof of the
political aptitude of our race. | am quite
content to share In this complacency; and
| ain well aware that If any one should be
disposed to admire or TO envy the more
exact methods OF Belgium or the United
States IN the matter OF constitutional re-
vision, that admiration must needs be
purely academicai. But let Us be con-
sistent in our love of the practical. 1t
Is the English constitution as
whole that has succeeded. The
illogical provisions of one part OF
it have balanced the illogical pro-
visions of another. There is no power in
the constitution which can secure that the
will of the nation shall be ascertained and
oheyed with anything approaching to the
accuracy of the provisions by which other
democratic nations have guarded them
selves, except the house of lords. Even
the house OF lords can only discharge this
duty approximate and incompie tely; it
cannot Isolate the issue TO be presented to
the electors with the exactitude at
tanned by the constitution OF Belgium,
America and other states. Ii cannot make
provision for ascertsining, still less can it
insist on a specified proportion IN the ma
iority Of votes 10 be obtained. But it can
require that special election shall be
held 10 return the house of commons
which is 10 deal with this question: and il
IA fQr NJ M ENh fytfs iafr bal
change shall be introduced into our an
cieut policy unless Eng and and Scotland
are asserting parties to it.
Those who urge the lords TO efface them
selves IN this matter usually conhne their
arguments to highly-spiced invective
against the principle on which the
upper chamber Is constituted. There
are some changes in the constitution
of that chamber which l should
welcome. and others which / should
earnestly deprecate Bat shall
not wander into that discussion. Even If.
for the sake of argument. il be admitted
that the house Of lords is an Illogical in
sti;utioa. it would still remain true that
cur method Of obtaining, By random infer
ences from selected eeetion addresses. the
decision OF The nation upon question Of
fundamental change is also, in 3 high
degree. illogical. Az worst the house of
lords IS the anomalous corrective Of an
ANONYMOUS system o. Constltutlpnh4 Fef{S-
ion. That It is likely to set itself against
the SIli Of the nation, when that
viii has been sufficiently ascertsiued.
IS an sssum ptlQn so much al
variance wtth ali that il 1as done in the
past lhst the hypothesis need not be dis
cus*e8. Neither the suggested possibility
o. is powers being abused. nor the posi-
uIaty OF its constitution ueing some day
improved. viii furnish 70 its mem hers any
excuse for re.us ng go do their uutv II an
emergency requiring IT'S performance
should arise. for the part which they tiIl
In the process Of constitutional revision IS
one which cannot re supplied They
alone possess the power Of securing that
in erea, project ~ fundamental change
"A change ]1 tae traWcWork of the en-
p}re-tae nation shall be- honestly con-
su-tei. ana ghat its voice shall ge faith
faly obeyed SALISBURY.