The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-15
HOW TO GET RID OF THE HOUSE
OF LORDS.

The British constitution il not like ours.
. written instrument. the Interpretation OF
which belongs TO q judicial tribunal indie
pendent Of the legislature. whose amend
ment can only DO accomplished by slow
and difficult political process subject to
ratification by the states. The British
constitution Is rather an accumulation OF
precedents. Mr.. Gladstone in his last
speech to the house OF commons admitted
that the present house of commons could
not take upon itself TO pass judgment
upon the matter whether the whole body
Of legislation shall DO blocked by . small
body of men composing the hereditary
upper house Of the British parliament
Mr.. Gladstone said that there was higher
authority than the house of commons.
namely, the authority of tho nation,
which must in the last resort decide. In
his Judgment the time had arrived to in
vi,e this decision of tho people. and when
rendered tho government would regard it
as absolutely final.
This means that If ut Al election. mainly
turning on the question whether the
powers OF the hereditary upper house are
obstructive or merely advisory. the
Liberals shall return a majority, the house
of commons would Immediately proceed
by resolution TO end or mend the house
of lords. The house of commons gets its
powers by the votes of 7 ,ooo, 600 OF Engish.
men, and this elective assembly will not
much longer consent TO paralyse their own
work by giving n power of review and
veto 10 body OF men whose only title to
legislate rests on the accident of birth. Ii
the house OF lords persists in It's present
obstructive position an appeal will be
taken TO the people. and If the appeal i.
sustained the house of lords will be
mended or ended by the house of COM
mons. Mr.. Giads tones words were;
''rhe question now is whether the house
\ of lords IN not only TO modify. but 10 an
initiate the whole work Of the commons"
The issue is raised between deliberate
assembly elected by the Votes OF 200 600
of men aud = 81 fiercnt kind of assembly.
though occupied by some men of virtue
and talent. Tha, controversy once
raised must 20 forward to its issue The
authority Of the nation must in the last
resort decide che crisis 81 once"
How could the extinction Of the house
Of lords be accomplished The Glad.
stonians would take an appeal 10 the
people on the proposal TO abolish the
hereditary legislature. just a. they took
an appeal to the people on the question OF
home rale. Ii tile people at the polls
sanctioned this proposal then the house
OF com elected on this appeal woald
only need to pass resolution refusing to
send up thereafter any bills 10 the lords,
and ordering tho sneaker 10 submit al
measures asssd by the peoples representa-
tives directly TO tie crown.
The crown would he compelled 20 ul.i.
snately aeauiesoe in the position taken by
the commons. because ever since the great
English revolution Ct i60 the CON.
mons. by possessing tho power over the
purse. have the crown st their mercy.
Charles the Second, who Was az hear, a.
eeld-hloode3 ;yfaat - hss father. ..that
blessed martyr. Charles The FIRST" never
could have been restored II tAs thronr -
he had NOT solemply accepted the srsa,
resoli of the great English revolution Of
lesn. which lei, 'hs house Of commons
really the governing power Of Eaelaai
The house Of common Gan Withhold the
civil list: withhold the appropriation, fsr
the maintenance u the standing srspv.
which must eaaaste fFon tia elective
branch al the British Legislators.
o. course the erosa would never dare %
proyeke the commons 10 sach sxtresnitiss
Tor the sake OF tie liis u The hereditary
Legislators lest II lcse ass osn Esse. II the
erosa should stand by TIE hoase Of loris
il woala share sArsr tate. while ii ia stae,i
with the commons te som.i masata.n Is
present tguseaezd existence Tor many
years 80 cone. as the leading Liberals.
Who Are hostile 70 tia destructive hoass as