Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-17
OTHER LANDS THAN ouWs.

The question Of mending or ending the
British House of Lords is again seriously
discussed by the liberal party press of
Great Britain. The question is one of an
cient vintage which invariably comes to the
fore when the liberal party is in power.
Measures designed to better the condition
of the Industrial classes or curtail the priv
ileges Of the aristocracy are amended TO
death or defeated by the House of Lords.
In so doing the House of Lords acts
strictly within its rights as a coordinate
legislative body. But the elements OF which
It Is constituted renders It unresDonsive IN
public sentiment. except when public senti-
ment is reflected by tory ministry. a
liberal ministry is an acute irrttant for the
lords an offensive demonstration Of popu-
lar Will which they resent with great una
nimity. The present ministry is no ex-
ception to the rule. Every measure of
Importance embodying liberal policies and
pledges sent up by the Commons has been
bounced upon by the Lords and amended
beyond recognition. Most important of
these measures is the educational bill. In
repudiating the liberal policy OF state edu-
cation without religion the Lords threw
down the gauntlet % the ministry and
challenged the liberal party to appeal 20
the country on this question. II is not
likely that Premier Campbell Banner1nan
will give serious attention to the challenge
other measures Of supreme importance In
ciuded in the liberal program await action
Ia the Commons These include Irish
home rule and labor relief. both destined
to meet defeat i'm the House OF Lords
Should this policy be adhered TO by the
ministry an aggravated case viii have been
made against hereditary obstrictionists
members OF the upper house fear this
policy Is indicated by a suggestion for
referendum test of public sentiment on
measures on which the two houses dis
agree. The ministry shows no disposition
however, to compromise with the Oppo-
nents OF progress and seem determined to
fight 10 a finish the standpatters OF priv
ilege and class favoritisrh.
The now college that has just been estab-
lished in Dublin for the training OF teachers
m the Gaelic language and literature has
already found itself famous Tho niu-
msnating magnates who control the local
gas supply evidently see danger in such
an enterprise as an Irish college, and fhey
are determined that they will not BE- a
party toward spreading the light" either
in the way OF gas or education. The requi-
sition for the supply OF light was written
in Gaelic. and the directors OF the gas
company promptly said: mo; II you want
light for your obsolete old language you
must request a supply through the medium
Of iegible Anglo-Saxon." "Capitulate" Is
not inscribed on the banner Of the Gaelic
revivalists, with the result that the col
1 icge has at the moment been obliged 10
fan back on the modest OIL lamp as an
Fnluminant.
A provincial newspaper Of rather pro-
nounced nationalist sympathies has had a
similar experience. It's proprietors con
celved the idea Of removing the head Of
/ nee 10 Dublin but the gas company. acting
on the same principle As that dictated by
their policy IN connection with the Irish
! college, declined 20 supply light Unless
the application for q was made IN English
the editorial brain must IN this latter cast