The morning call., 1893-09-29
THE REPLY OF THE PEOPLE.

Mr.. Gladstone's speech at Edinburgh is
his answer to the demand of the Lords
that he dissolve Parliament. He fatty re-
fuses, and he is wise. Having gone to the
country and won the day why should he
again put the CAUSE of wholesome govern
ment in jeopardy? What political party
In any country having won an election
agreed to hold it over again in order to
give Its antagonists chance of winning it I?
Mr. Gladstone was cautious in his words,
put there was plain intimatiOn in bis
statement that if the Lords had not yielded
In 1912 and 1876 there would have been no
House of Lords today. "If," he added,
dissolution is forced the Irish question
Will not be the only question considered,
but the independent, irresponsible exist
ence of the House of Lords will also be
taken into consideration. This is his
answer to those who are advising the
Qusen TO dissolve Parliament on her own
responsibility. 1t is notice TO her Majesty
that II she takes the advice she will bring
the question of the abolition of the hered-
itary aristocracy to the front 1t is mar
velous to hear so much said in so few
words.
The gradual evolution of self-govern-
ment in England is proceeding according
to rule. The Peers are adhering TO prece-
dent in their performance of hara-kiii.
1t was optional with them to have allowed
the hOme-rule bill to pass, in which case
the radical cry against the nobility would
have subsidized, and the hereditary cham
Der might have lasted for another genera
ton. But moribund institutions always
sharpen the knife for their own throat.
Lest by any chance the people of England
should have been in doubt where the Lords
stood. Salisbury called them in from their
castles and their country seats, their
travels in Italy. their pleasures in their
yachts, their rural delights, and made them
poll vote against the will of the people,
which was the heaviest vote cast ever nee
there was House of Lords. Having COM
mitted this blunder, he followed it up with
the demand that the Queen dissolve Parlia-
ment at the instance of the House of Lords
and in defiance of The House of Commons
Such faulty is inc0nceivable.
What will be the result? At the next
session of Parliament the House OF Com
mons will again pass the home-rule bill.
The House of Lords will hardly venture
to throw it out a second time, for that
would be revolution. Ii must be remem-
bered that the sentiments which are ex-
pressed in temperate language by Glad
stone are entertained by masses of English
men who are not TEN perate; also that the
control Of the army is in the hands # the
Ministry. Therefore, the House of Lords
will yield in 1894. But whole year OF
seethng fermentation will have passed,
during which Englshmen Will have been
educated to diStIust the Lords.
In all political crises, tardy concessions,
instead of satisfying. stimulate increased
demands. The States General would have
been satisfied with very little when they
first met. But after they had been pal
tered with ana antagoniZed till their
patience was worn out nothing satisfied
them but clean sweep. When they met
the noblesse would not yield a hairs
breadth. After time they conse nted to
surrender their immunity from taxation.
But by that time the peoples blood was
up, and they would not leave them either
titles or lands.
1t is exceedingly doubtful whether sur
render by the Lords next year would
silence the CRY for the abolition of the
hereditary chamber. Up to the present
time that Institution has been left standing
through the conservatism which is charac-
teristic of Englishmen. Its existence has
not been justified by reasoning. But Eng
lishmen have argued that the kingdom
was on the whole prosperous, and that il
they began to pull down parts of the an
Gent edifce, there was no saying where
iconocasm would stop. This inertia will
be disturbed If for a whole year speakers
and newspapers hammer away at the
House of Lords, and demonstrate that the
country would be better without it. 1t
would be curious historical incident il
the Oldest and most powerful hereditary
chamber in the world was overthrown by
the stipendiary magistracy of Ireland.
But that might cnma To mass