The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-13
Dir. Gladstone and the House of Lords

Mr. GLADSTONE is said to have returned
to England in improved health. and for the
moment the talk about his resignation has
ceased. The question now uppermost in
London Is whether ho will favor or oppose
the disposition Of his party to attack tho
hereditary legislators. lie must show where
he stands with reference to this matter. for
Immediately after the reassembling OF Par
Lament the House Of Commons will have to
decide what course 1t will pursue in regard
to the amendments with which the EN-
ployers' Liability bill and the Parish Coun-
ellis bill have been saddlcd by the Lords.
The present Parliament met soon after
the general election In midsummer. 1892.
but although since then its sessions have
been unusually prolonged. 1t has carried
through no important legislation. The
failure is exclusively due to the Lords.
who in no sense can be said to constitute
a representative body. The House OF Com
mons has passed three bills. every one OF
which was indisputably called for by the
constituencies which formed majority OF
the electors two years ago. Were it other
wise. there would have been unmistakable
signs Of disaffection in the Gladstonian
rank and hie. There has been nothing Of
the kind. However. in the face OF such
proof that In passing the bills In question
the Commons were fulfilling mandates OF
the people. the Lords have summarily re-
jected one of them. the Home Rule bill. and
have loaded the two others with amend
ments fatal to their fundamental purposes
How long is this blocking Of the ma
chinery Of legislation ID lie suffered "a go
on! The Unionists say that tine Lords are
simply exercising their constitutional privi-
lege Of compelling Mr. GLADSTONE 10 APP
peal anew to the country. But the Lords
will not pledge themselves 10 be bound by
the result OF that appeal. On tho contrary.
their spokesman declare that they will
never sanction the Home Rule bill until the
voters have pronounced judgment on that
measure, uncumplicatod with other issues.
This demand. that great political party |
shall reduce its platform 10 a single plank.
Is clearly inadmissible. inasmuch as the |
referendum does not exist in Great Britain. |
Besides. II the Lords were sincere. they |
could have helped TO narrow the issues al |
the next general election by refraining from |
mangling, in the interest OF employers and |
landlords, the Employers Liability bill and |
the Parish Councils bill. The truth is that.
taking advantage OF the unpopularity OF |
the Home Rule bill with a certain class OF |
Englishmen. they have lately arrogated a !
right OF interfering with legislation, such |
as they had not ventured to assert since |
the passage of the first Reform act.
II is the fault OF the hereditary lawmak-
ers themselves. and not that Of the Com
mons or Of the Gladstonian party at large.
that all other questions are tendisg to be-
come subordinate to the abolition OF the |
House OF Lords. We say abolition, because
any alteration Of the upper chamber which |
leaves any scope to tho principle OF heredi-
~ will be unsatisfactory and by Tie ex-
tinetiOn Of that principle the House of Lords
will be not mended. but ended. SECOND
chamber, framed on the French or Amerj-
can pattern. would have nothing in COM
mon with the House 81 Lords and would be
free from all the objections Justly made
against that body, But will Mr. GLAD
STONE ever consent To such drastic treat
ment OF an inherited institution There is
grave doubt upon the point. II is believed
that lifelong prepOssessions incline him TO
deal as leniently as possible with the upper
chamber; that he would rather patch it up
than destroy il: and. moreover. lac natural
ly shrinks at his age from undertaking a
sure to be fraught with exceeding
bitterness. upon an entirely new issue. He
had intended that the GROWING work OF his
life should be constructive, not destructive.
the bestowal Of self-gOvernment on Ireland:
and be may feel misgivings lest his reputa-
ton should suffer. II his last days were as
ISOLATED. not With message Of peace and