New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-26
4 S1L1RIED PARLIAMENT.

Tho progress OF democratic reform III Eng
land is indicated by the passage OF resolution
by tho Commons in favor OF compromising
Members of Parliament for their legislative
services. The resolution was introduced by
Radical. and was adopted by vote OF 2IG to
229 1t has been a standing grievance OF the
new classes OF voters admitted to sui ragc by
tho three great reform acts Of the century that
they are not fully and adequately represented
in the Commons. Zach Of those acts while It
has enlarged the electorate, has failed to alter
materially the membership Of the House Zach
measure has been opposed in turn as revolu'
tonary in it, tendencies, but when the enlarged
electorate has voted the House has been filled
Ia a great extent with the sons of peers and
with representatives Of the wealthy middle
classes. The reason has been an 0bcious one.
50 long as Members Of Parliament had no
salaries only rich men could afford TO SIT on
the legislative benches at Westminster. The
country was governed under a system of uni
vcrsal suffrage. but the classes rather than the
masses wcrv represented in Parliament.
Tho proposal to pay salaries to Members OF
Parliament will be bitterly denounced in Eng
land by those who arc in sympathy with the
old order. They will regard the innovation a
an uncrring indication Of the intellectual and
moral dccadcnco Of Parliament. When mem
bcrs no longer enter public life from disn-
torestcd motives, and cease to regard a seat
at Westminster as an honor to be sought for its
own sake and without reference to financial
compensations, tho old school Tory will incvi
tably be convinced that the dignity and social
prestige Of Parliament are fatally impaired.
Tho tradition that only gentleman, who is
above taking 4 salary for his services, is en-
titled to seat at Westminster runs back into
tho remote ages, and is counted among the
old. fashioned Conservatives articles Of religion
The Radical resolution IN favor OF Paria
mcntary salaries will be deplorcd by the wealth
and fashion Of England as an unmstakablc
sign of tho generalization of Mr. Gladstoncs
party under its Irish masters. At tho same
timc it will be regarded with genuine cnthus-
been satisfied with tho results of universal
suffrage. They will rejoice to have the doors
Of Parliament opened to the real represent
ativcs of English democracy.
"Trust the people, r exclaimed John Bright
ut the close of one of his finest speeches on
reform legislation. That is the effective reply
which Mr.. Gladstone and the Radicals can make
to Tory criticism over Parliamentary salaries.
The present system Of unsalarcd representa-
ton favors wealth, rank and social class. II
disc inmates against the Misses, whose personal
representatives cannot afford to sit in Parla
ment without receiving compensation for their
time and service. The democracy rcgns, but
it does not govern. 1t will govern as well as
reign when tho seats at Westminster cease to
be reserved for titled gentlemen and plutccrats
Of tho middle class. That is the view which
Radical England takes of the matter when it
cries out: Employ and pay the represent
ativcs of the people - Traditions and prcce
dents may be violated but tho English people
will inevitably be more directly and adequately
represented in 4 saaried Parliament than they
are now at Westminster. Whoever has an
abiding faith in popular government and repre-
sentative institutions will welcome the change