The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-12-29
SATURDAY, DECEMBER %. 1894.
RosEBERY AND THE LORDS.

The House OF Lords has become IOr
the time being the immediate question.
This question as is we'll known to the
re lders of TEE IRISH STANDARD W 8 al,
rectly precipitated by the defeat OF Mr..
Gladstone's Home Rule bill, The breech
between the House Of Commons and the
T. ,rds has been gradually widening.
Lass than thirty years ago the members
OF the House of Commons we're for the
most part scions of noble families, now
all has changed and the Commons ls
m ade up Of the manufacturer, the mer-
chant, the lawyer and journalist Form
erly the members of the two houses were
Intimately connected and this tended to
make the relations Of the two houses
cordial. The House of Commons has
grown to be severely democratic while
the Lords remain aristocratic, Prior to
1882 the entire control in Great Britain
was with the aristocracy. From 1882 to
1885 it was with the aristocracy and the
middle class, since 1885 it has been with
the democracy 1t will thus be seen
that the two houses have been growing
apart, in fact Lord Salisbury in his re-
ply to Lord Rosebery plainly says that
tie Lords expect to have more to say in
the future. In this country the mem-
bers Of both houses are elected by the
people and come from the same classes.
On political issues our houses divide in
much the same way, but in England the
House of Lords has become an adjunct
to the Conservative party and az antag-
ouist OF the Liberal party. Time and
time again the House of Lords has shown
it's animus by rejecting measures pro-
posel by Liberal ministers which when
afterwards proposed by Conservative adj
ministrations were promptly accepted.
One OF these instances happened in 1867
when the Suffrage bill was introduced by
Mr.. Gladstone, it was rejected by the
Lords but soon afterwards accepted when
introduced by Dieraeli. Again, Mr..
Gladstone's Land bill in 1885 was rejected
by the Lords, but Mr.. Balfour's was &C.
oepted soon afterwards. The Liberal
party feels that it cannot submit to q
condition of fairs which subjects them
at all times to their political opponents.
But it is not known just what Lord
Il mebery proposes in regard to the Lords.
T hat he will introduce resolution an
tagonistic to the Lords is settled. If he
is sustained in this resolution he will then
proceed to revision of the constitution,
but what that change would be no one
at present seems to know. But no doubt
it means the abolition of the veto power.
The Lords would then cease to be CO.
ordinate Legislative body, they would be
an advisory board merely. This of course
would amount to destruction of the
Lords. But perhaps Lord Rosebery is
only in favor of q reconstruction of the
House of Lords. OF this several schemes
have been presented. One is to elect
certain peers from the body as it now ex-
lists and add representatives Of the col
onies and distinguished men Of science,
literature and art. Another plan is to re-
move unworthy persons from the pres
emit organization and allow the crown to
appoint others in their places. Just how
the Lords are going to be forced into
such change remains to be seen. For
our part We believe Rosebery has under
taken q far more difficult task than the
Home Rule bill. And It is 8 grave ques-
tion whether he Is justified il endanger-
ing the interests of the party IN the fight.
The Lords will only be overcome when
great outburst 81 ind ignation oyerawes
them If lord Rosebery can raise and
anssa . sentiment eainst the Lords,
sa,,,1 upon ID essing 10
l,e Lilbs "a lal and petty jjsalonsies
MI Nd Nor o De