The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-14
AMONG THE BOOKS
Moran's " Theory and Practice
Of the English Government"
An Instructive Volume by a
College Professor.
SITUATION is PLAIN.
Shows That England is Really
Under a Democracy.
Gossip Of Interest to Lovers of
Books.
SITUATION IS PLAIN.

''rhe Theory and Practice Of the English
Governments " by Thomas Francis Moran
49, In RE,,-,5 ,,,'ie5s5t 5 5l19 Sec
by Longmans. Green & Co. Price, $40.
The purpose Of Prof. Moran in writing
this work is given in the preface as an
EFFORT ito place before American readers
g concise account of the theory and
praetice of the English government" In
this effort he has certainly produced a
very interesting and instructive book.
TO he average American who has al
ways been taught to consider England
as p monarchy. a limited monarchy.
perhaps, but one in which the king has
a great deal to do in the actual govern
nent of the country, this work comes as
smelling Of a surprise 1t makes
Gear the fact that the English govern
sent though monarchy in theory, in
Factlce II is even more of a democracy
nan America The administration at
Washington is not SO close nor so di-
Getty responsible to the people as is the
cal government at Westminster.
Ahe theories of the British government
ire ia many Instances far removed from
he understanding TO Prof. Moran.
Theoretically the king has a veto power.
and he. together with the house of
lords is coordinate with the commons
in tn law making power In practice
4llc NIS mas NOT Uet4 the veto power
since queen Annes time. 1907, two hum
dred ears ago. Since 1882 the house OF
lordsAas passed everything which the
c0mmns have insisted on. This leaves
the rll power of lawmaking with the
housfpt commons which is elected by
the r3ple.
Thaabinet is directly responsible to
parllnent, which really means to the
houseof commons This cabinet IS
maddip of the leaders of the predOmi-
antulitical party in the commons and
nheHhe ministry loses its majority in
that puse. IL resigns and the opposition
takeau the reins of government and
carrH out ITS policy with no check or
vetohve the majority of commons.
Ih is what is called the responsible
government because the ministry IS
raspsibie 10 the commons and the
comons to the people 1t is the same
as Dugh our house Of representatiV
Werthe only element in the iawmak-
ing bWer with no senate or presidents
VerQto check its acts. The book is
WTitn i'm clear. direct way which is
Ner1 entertaining and comprehensive.
Sirtlliam Blackstone has given as the
they Of English government Ia his
comentaries but the present day prac-
tictof this same government are given
by'rof Moran i'm much less space and
SIN much more readable shape than
SIN by the eminent jurist.
Whaleman's Wife once more
trsspOrts us to those scenes among
7fEh Frank T. Bullen loves TO dwell
hl this time. instead of a number of
sfft stories, he gives US a novel de-
tang the adventures of two lovers
sfhrated in Vermont who were
bught together under wildly exciting
cfumstances in the whaling grounds
othe far east. All this was fifty years
ai, when whaling was an important
hiness and life i'm whaling ship an
estence apart
'he author has the whaling lingo"
& hazards and methods of taking the
Fy. of getting the oil, of cleaning and
fling the ship, of disciplining and
pusing the sailors at his fingers ends
id he gives details at great length in
is novel. We do not see 50 much of
be- "Whaleman's wife, as to entitle her
figure in the title. Except in the
rst chapter when Captain Da Silva
3urts and carries her away from Reu-
en- Eddy, then a young Vermont far
Ter, she has very little to say for her
Elf She sails about the globe in the
oat Of her friend of husband like an
nanimate doll, growing more and
more stupefied as she beholds his ex-
iesses of anger and his shameful treat
nent Of his men. Therefore she gives
little trouble TO her creator, who is
ihus enabled to devote more time to
aeiineating the character Of Reuben.
The book has just been published by
D. Appleton & Co.
Mr.. Richard G. Badgers first list of
books for the new year contains some
interesting titles. In fiction Mr.. Bad
ger viii issue the only adequate rem
derins obtainable of Tannhauser.'' the
romance upon which Wagner's most
famous opera is based, it being trans
lated in "a bold and spirited manner
from the original German by Mr..
Charles c. Kendall. in poetry Mr..
F Badger viii issue The Song at Mid
night" by the late Mary NJ. Adams,
Indian summer by James Courtney
Chaliss April Twilightsf by Villa
Sibert Gather Summer Songs In Idle
ness" by Katherine H. Mcdonald Jack
son. "semanoud" by II. Talbot Kun
mer. THE Concelts OF a General Lover
by Edward w Barnard, "A Spray OF
Cosmas" Augusta Cooper Bristol "A
Field of Folk" by Isabella Howe Fiske
and "a Pilgrim Jew" a romance by
Charles Coke Woods