New-York tribune., 1906-07-09
BRITAIy'S WORKING DEMOCRACY,

The illuminating and sympathetic letter from
our regular London correspondent, on English
democracy, which we printed in Saturdays
Tribune confirmed the correctness of the fore
casts which he and other judicious observers
made months ago Of the trend of affairs in
the new House of Commons The new men,
bers, he tells us, have made it clear that they
have come to Westminster to work rather than
to talk. Their constituents sent them thither to
do things. and they are doing them. 1t is a
common fault of parliaments In all lands to
do too much talking, and new members, espe-
cially those who have hitherto been denied the
privilege of airing their opinions, are perhaps
the worst of sinners in that respect, as witness
the untiring orators of the Russian DOuma.
But these new men at Westminster eSDecially
the Labor members are signally resisting the
temptation. There IS speechmaking of course
but it is Il means to the end of doing work
instead Of the doing of work being used as q
preteXt and an opportunity for interminable
talking. There is, to cut off the flood Of ora
tory with which some ''old parliamentary
hands might delay progress, such drastic
and ineXOIable application of the closure as
never was known before and there is a grim
determination TO hold an autumn session every
year, at least until the present ambitious pro-
gramme of constructive Radical legislation has
been disposed of. The House of Commons Is
longer to be the best club in London" 1t
is 10 be the busiest and most productive legis-
latiye workshop in the empire
All that is doubtless as it should be and if
some time ago quoted that competent
English observer, Mr.. Sydney Brooks, as say
ing-it betOkens profound change in the tone
and temperament Of British public life. we have
sufficient faith in British genius to believe that
too. TO be it should be. Profound changes
have occurred befOre-at the dates of Magma
Charta and the Reform Act, ard several times
between those events. The change which is
now being effected scarcely be greater
than they were, though it may be comparable
with any Of them. 1t may. as they were. be
regarded by some with apprehension, and even
with dismay, as threat atening chaos but like
them, 1t will doubtless soon be perceived to be
only one more logical, appropriate and inev-
liable step IN that impressive and inspiring
process through which Freedom broodens
slowly down" from the pure absolutism Of n
Phntagenet TO the pure democracy OF n SAKE
Coburg. There is in all the history OF the Rrit
ish people and their government no feature
more striking than the confluence tho stead
fastness, the fxedness of purpose. that have
marked them for a thousand years. So long
as that feature remains dominant in the British
character the trend of British affairs will con
tinue TO be upward and forward
For that and for other reasons we agree with
the view of our correspondent that, DESPITE
some present reverberations Of that stage thun-
der which is as familiar TO Americans as TO
Englishmen, no open conflict between the Radi-
cal Commons and the Conservative Peers is to
be expected this year or next year, IT, indeed. at
any time. The fact is, the existence of an
upper chamber is By no means incompatible