The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-22
Mr.. Gladstone Backs Down.

The manner In which the Lords amend
ments to the Employers Liability bill were
treated on Tuesday by the Commons was
far from meeting the expectations OF the
Radicals. 1t had been announced that Mr..
AsoUITH would move that the amendments
be laid aside, a proceeding which would
have been tantamount to impeaching the
Legislative capacity Of the upper House,
and which. by raising q new issue OF su-
preme Importance. would have compelled
an immediate appeal to the electors. Moth
ing of the sort occurred. Instead OF his
lieutenant. the Home Secretary. Mr.. GLAD
STONE himself took charge OF the matter.
and simply moved the discharge OF the Or
der OF the day. which was the consideration
OF the amendments mentioned. That is to
say. he abandoned the contest. and re-
Trained not only from questioning the con-
stitutional or technical power OF the Lords
to thwart the will OF the Commons. but
even from disputing the moral validity OF
their course.
We have always doubted whether Mr..
GLADSTONE could be prevailed upon to lead
a crusade against the hereditary legisla-
tors. both because. as compared with his
Radical followers. he Is essentially con-
sentative. and because he has repeatedly
declared that the last efforts Of his public
life would be directed to the attainment OF
home rule for Ireland. Had he been strong
ly prepossessed in favor OF demonstra-
tion against the Peers. he would scarcely
have been deferred by the reported inten-
ton of the Speaker to declare out Of
order a motion to lay aside their amend
ments. From such a decision. an appeal
could have been taken. end. with the Prime
Minister'S support. the appeal could have
had but one result.
1t should also be borne In mind that,
among the great body OF Liberals repre-
sented last week at the meetings of the
National Liberal Federation. opinions were
divided as to the expediency OF an assault
upon the Lords at this particular juncture.
Some OF the more long headed opponents
OF the upper House suggested that. al
though the amendments OF the Employers
Liability bill and Parish Councils bill af-
forded reasonable basis for an aggressive
demonstration. 1t might be better to let the
Lords go on and erect a more offensive
superstructure. Give them more rope, il
was argued. and. under SALIsBURY's guild
ance. they will be sure to hang them
selves. Those who took this view advised
that. after refusing to consider the amend
ments. and thereby making the Lords re-
spensible for the miscarriage OF the bills re-
ferred to. the Commons should proceed to
pass measures framed against plural vot-
ing. for the reform Of the registration laws.
and for the payment Of members. These
are all matters which concern the electors
exclusively. and with which any interior
once on the part Of the Lords would be pc
culiaTly odious. The execution OF this
programme will now be In order; and there
is no doubt that a vast majority OF the
voters in England. as we'll as in the other
parts Of the United Kingdom. desire to see
1t carried out.
By compelling the abandonment OF the
Employers Liability bill. the Lords have
made irreeoncilable enemies Of nine-tenths
OF the trades unions. who represent the
organized operatives and miners OF Great
Britain. BY eondemning to a similar fate
the Parish Councils bill. they have lost
their last opportunity OF propitiating the
agricultural laborers who saved Mr. GLAD
STONE from defeat at tine last general cleo
tion. Should the upper House now add TO
its offences. by defeating attempts to secure
the free and equal exercise Of ths Suffrage.