St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-15
GLASS RULE Is DOOMED.


The action of the British house OF
commons on Tuesday in declaring by a
vote of lat to AS in favor of the aboli-
ton of the house of lords is signilican
OF the tendency Of public sentiment in
Great Britain. although the vote itself
Will have no legal bearing upon the
status of the upper house of parliament
Less than One-half of the members of
the house were present when the vote
was taken, the absentees being manly
supporters of the existing order of
things. The move was precIpitated I'M
awares in the form of an amendment to
the address in reply to the speech from.
the throne. Had due notice of the in
lention of the move been given there
would, 10 doubt, have been determined
contest over the matter. with a proba-
bllity of far different result. The vote,
however, is straw which indicates the
prevailing direction OF public senti-
ment. 1t will probably serve its pur-
pose if it shall awaken the lords TO a
realizing sense of their duty to the
country. and of the risk they are run
ming i'll attempting to thwart the public
will.
The constitution of Great Britain can.
not be thus radically changed by mere
motion in the house of commons any
more than the constitution of the United
States may be altered under like cir
stances. 1t Is fortunate for the people
OF both countries that a revolution Is
hot so easy OF accomplishment, for con-
situations and laws would continue only
during the ascendency of one party or
the other, In England a change in the
form might be effected every three
months; in the United States four years
would be required. The cost of this
instability would be beyond calculation,
and the constitutions OF both countries
wisely guard against sucn violent and
revolutionary proceedings.
There is no question that the British
mouse OF lords has abused its privileges
any more than question exists that the
senate Of tile United States has fire.
quently violated the confidence placed
IN it by the American people. Both are
unnecessary branches of the government
of as much value as fifth wheel to a
wagon. Neither represents the people.
In Great Britain the upper house is
composed of an aristocracy of blood; in
the United States it IS composed of an
ariStocracy of money. Ii is di fficult to
choose between the two. If anything
the British lords are the better class,
and would be preferable if it were not
for their permanency. 1t is sometimes
possible TO get rid of an obnoxious SEN
ator in the United States; 1t is not pos.
sible to get rid of an obnoxious lord in
Great Britain, except he dies-a process
too slow to satisfy the progressIveness
of the age.
The house of lords will be wise if it
shall pay heed to the warning uttered
by the commons. 1t is forewarning
OF the storm that is brewing, which,
when it shall break, will sweep the
hereditary lawmakers from the face of
the earth. The peopleof Great Britain
are i'll no mood to be trified with. They
have purpose in view-the reform of
many governmental abuses-and vino.
ever or whatever shall stand in. the way
of its accomplishment will suffer harm.
The lords may yet save themselves from
the consequences Of the peoples wrath
by retracing their steps or giving better
promise for the future. In time they
will be compelled to abdicate utterly,
but they may postpone that day by fall
Ing i'll with the advancing columns OF
the people and assisting in bringing
about reforms that are demanded in
order that the nation shall keep abreast
with The spirit of the age. If they shall
persist III their policy of obstruction
they will be Overthrown. just as the
senate of the United States will be
Oyerthrown if it shall continue to
thwart the will of the American people.
The era of class rule has come to an end,
and the sooner the aristocratic houses of
Great Britain and the United States
recognize the fact the better it will by
for them,