The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24

t.ately began to show that, in spite of
/ sying been trained according to the
s raitest sect of the aristocracy, he had
q lite different ideas from the men of his
own class. Mr.. Gladstone ..discovered''
Lord Rosebery at very early stage in his
career, and gave him the opportunity to
show the stuff that was in him at a time
of his life when most young noblemen are
still engaged in sowing their wild oats.
He began by giving close attention to
Scottish business in parliament, and when
only 27, had so pushed himself to the front
as reformer that he was made chairman
of a committee on the Scottish and Irish
I representative peerages.
In order TO realize the position taken up
by Lord Rosebery, it should be explained
that the British house of lords consists of
four distinct bodies of men. Firstly, there
are the peers of the United Kingdom, that
is to say, the old English nobility and
those who have been ennobled since the
union of Scotland and Ireland with Eng
land. These hold their seats hereditarily,
the oldest son or other heir becoming a
member of the house of lords
on the death of his predecessor in the title
These hereditary lords are not eligible to
the house of commons. They must be-
long to the house of lords all their life, af-
ter succeeding to their title, whether they
like it or not. Secondly. there are the
archbishops and the bishops of the Church
of England. These become members of
the house OF lords in rotation and sit for
life. Thirdly, there are the Scottish repre-
sentative peers. These are elected
for life by the Scottish peers;
that is to say, they belong
to the old Scottish nobility, which existed
centuries before the union, and are
chosen from among their own order by
their own order. The Scottish mobiles are
not eligible to the house of commons, so
that unless they can secure election TO the
house oflords no political career is open
to them. Fourthly, there are the Irish
representative peers, members of the old
Irish nobility, elected for life to the Brit
ism house of lords by their own order.
But Irish peers who are not elected to the
house of lords are eligible to the house of
commons and are frequently elected-a
privilege which gives them great advant-
age over the Scottish mobiles and even, as
some think, over the English The cele-
| brated Lord Palmerston. for many years
prime minister, was an Irish peer who
never would allow himself to be
elected TO the house of lords, but pre-
ferred all his life to sit in the house
of commons. There have been many SINH
lar cases. Lord Rosebery's view is that
these anomalous distinctions between
English, Scottish and Irish peers should
be placed on the same footing, that,
namely. of the Irish peers. Ii that were
| done, the house of lords would consist of
| the chosen men of the nobility of the three
! kingdoms, while those who were not
| chosen to the house of lords would have
the same night rs anybody else to stand
| for election to the house of commons.
| Lord Rosebery and many other active
! minded men and ambitious peers consider
| IL great injustice to be compelled to
! sit IN the house of lords, where there is
! little or no field for talent. when they
| would much rather be in the busy and
| glorious arena of the house of commons.
| Peers are forbidden even to take any
| active part in elections, and that gals
| men OF Lord Rosebery's restless and vault
! ing temperament. with a natural genius
| for popularity. He maintains that this
| change which he proposes would embody
IN Itself all the reforms that are needed in
the constitution OF the house of lords
| The irrational system of hereditv would
/ be got rid of, and the black sheen, the
| prohigates and idiers, would be effeetuaiiy
! excluded. On the other hand. the con-
( sentative character of the chamber would
/ be preserved, because the members would
/ necessarily be men of q yerv high order
! and would be above fear or favor of popU-
I lar caprice. At the same time, much good
/ legislative material and public spirit which
| is now wasted in the house of lords would
! be available for the house of commons.
/ 1t IS bold and logical scheme. and is
/ supported by many of the ahlest of the
NOBILITY, including members of both
/ political parties. Lord Rosebery. how
| ever. Is suspected OF hidden designs for
/ poPularizing the house OF lords which go
| much farther than this, but how far this
IL really so, or Is only a pretense on his
| part, Il Is very difficult for anyone 10
say. The truth is no man is less easily
understood than Lord Rosebery. His
most intimate friends, who have known
him all his lite, admit that he is a
complete puzzle 10 them. His appearance
| Is So youthful, and his expression and
manners are so guileless that he might
pass Tor slmpie-minded. open hearted.
boylsh enthusiast wearing his heart on
/ his sleeve. Yet. in reality. he is one Of the
shrewdest men living, and has already de-
Veioped peculiar kind Of worldly wisdom
/ winch has gained for him the euithet OF
the modern Maehiavell" His admirers
cali this sound judgment. but there are
Others who call IL GINNING ana verv un-
scrnPOlous quality of cunning. too. Lord
hoSepeTy himself always meets these &C.
cas2tlon with mild surprise and gentle
conclhaiion, as II il panied rather than
sngered him that anybody should think