New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-31
THE sITrITION 1T WESTMINSTER.

They have reached the beginning of the end
Of Home Eulc-fcr the p'eScnt-at II. Ste
phenS Mr. Glad>toncS bill. which was last
week rcportc1 from committee 10 the House OF
Commons was at noon Of yesterday brought
lp for it., third and final reading. rs was
fitting. the hall was crowded. Members had
come back from the m00r' and from the sea
70 witness n scene mere impressive than the
shooting Of grouse or the sailing OF yachts.
As was fitting. also. but also none the ltSs eX-
traordinarv. Mr.. Gladstone hmSelf made the
opening speech in which the reading OF the
bin was moved. He has been battling for the
success of this measure daJ ana night Tor
six months at Westminster, ana Tor SIX years
throughout the Kingdom. He has surpassed
in energy the StOutcSt OF his pan! cjm'adeS.
He has trumphcd. step by step. over an cp-
noSition of Unprecedented power ana deter
mnation. he pose in his place yesterday with
the bnoyancy of youth, and spoke with the
came persuasive charm and convincing force
that have for half century placed him in the
foremost rank of living orators Md he *
nearing the end Of his cighty-fourih year.
The scene thus splcndidly begun will end TO-
morrow night. or in the small hours of Satir-
dav morning with the final passage OF the
hill by the House Of Commons. ON Monday
t,,e measure will come before the House Of
Lords. and will probably be rejected by that
body before next week is ended.
The peers have without doubt a perfect
constitutional right 70 reject this bill. Equally
norfcct is tho right of the Commons II go
straight on with other legislation. a' they will
doubtless d.. There will be no reason for dis
solution The House of Commons Is not de-
pendent upon the favor OF the Lords nor has
il ever been dissolved merely because OF an
adverse vote in the other chamber. When the
Reform bill of 1881 was rejected by the Lonls
there was no dissolution. Parliament was pro-
rogucd And presently tho same House of
Commons met again and sent the same bill mp
TO the Lords again. whercupon the Lords ac-
ccptcd it and passed it. If similar plan
should now he followed the Lords might not
be 50 yiclling. They might reject the bill
second time But it would be dangerous
thing 10 d..
There is no reason for dissolution, either on
the ground that the Judgment Of the electorate
should he taken on all the details Of the llcmc
Rule bill il is quite true that the bill was
not before the voters. nor I'LL OF ltN provisions
known II them. when they elected the present
House. In sense they signed a blank check
and gave il f. Mr. GladSton 10 fill with such
an amount AS he pleased. But they knew their
man. They knew. % substantially. the meas
IRE he had in mind. They could trust him TO
execute Their will. Moreover. nothing could
he more hopolc>.ly absurd than 10 say that
the representatives, Of the people, who have
inst been elected by the people - make laws.
shall not make laws without submitting them
10 the people for ratification. The funda-
mental principle Of representative government
is. that the men elected are endowed by the
people with plcnary powers. " a referendum
were required on every important measure half
the time would needs be spent IN general cleo
ti,rs.
Bat Mr. Gladstone and his party were not
returned to power merely for the ak" Of Home
Rule. There are other important items on the
programme That one fails. or is delayed. j.
no good ro1>on why al should b" abandoned.
Perhaps the Lords Will reject others. possibly
all the great meas 70 which Mr.. Glld>toncS
Government is committed. That for the pros
cnt is no concern OF Mr.. Gladstone His
course is clear. to obey the mandate of the
people VIII, elected him. When he has done
that 10 the last item he can confidently appeal
10 the people again for judgment on those who
have ch>tr,lct0l his labors and balkcd the n;i-
tons will.