New-York tribune., 1908-02-10
PEERS OUT OF WORK.
Er-Viceroys in Retiremcnt-Inde-
Dendents and Confederates.
o,don Jen,.nr A.

.-,,, a-s- less superfuous than ex-
r,rosfdents in America Ordinarily there Is iistls
5e5cr1+,, in their readjustment to the exigencfes
of nubIic life Lord Lansdowne after dis'in-
-g,ished service in Canada and INDIA founa
enpIovuent worthy OF his talents and expert
ence I'm the War and Foreign ornces' ana Do
came the leader of the Unionis1s ID the upper
house Ibrd Dufrerin. released from INDIA,
rounded out his career In the diplomatic service
and died of a broken heart because STOCK pro-
rnoters practised upon his credulity ana mans
use of his reputation and attractive personaAey.
The majority Of them are chosen because they
have high rank and titles are conferred upon
them if they lack it: and consequently wnen
they return to England they have their seats
among the privileged legislators. and are not
condemned to the obscurity OF retirement liks
the First American Citizens when their terms
of residence in the White House expire
Ir Lord Curzon has not shared the usual sx-
perience of viceroys since his reslfenienr RON
India it has been because OF MS own moton
the door had been left open for his return to
the Commons. AS the heir OF LORD scarsdaie
be Was destined to close his career in the Ep-
per chamber and, young as ne was and an e.
fecttve debater in the representative House. hs
did not wish to cut himself off from the more
;nvigorat,ng experiences of public Dfe Conse-
ouentlv an Irish title was artifctaly provided
for him for his convenience in conducting func-
tions with the Indian princes. ana when MS
term ended he came back 10 England with the
latch kew Of the Commons in his pocket Why
he did not use It he has not explained Possibly
it was because he not on good terms with
Mr. Balfour whom he held responsible for hs
nrenoature retirement from India in consequences
of controversies with Lord Kitchener lie may
not have found it practicable to get safe seat
at a bv-eIection and certainly he could not have
stood for any constituency without breaking
silence on the tariff question. and this ne was
reluctant to do
Capricious as men of genius often are. Lord
Curzon has not tried To enter the Commons out
has blamed the Liberal Prime Minister for not
opening the door of the upper house. and mas
gone in himself by the window looking out on
Dublin The ladder has nearly broken under
him, for in the election of a representative peer
for Ireland two other candidates, Lord Ashtown
and Lord Farnhann, have each polled nearly az
rnany votes as he has obtained II he be really
within the gfded chamber. which he formerly
regarded as prison vault for aspiring states
men in touch with the country, he viii have tbs
privilege of locking up his secret In his heart
for it will not be necessary for him as repre-
sentative irish peer to discuss economic ques-
tions His associates, Lord Croner and Lord
Miner have been SO indiscreet as to commit
themselves outside Parliament, one to Frss
Trade and the other to fiscal reform Places OF
honor are reserved for them at the banquets
on each side and they can rehearse the articles
of their economic faith before sympathetic audi
ences. but it is doubtful whether their speeches
are read or have marked influence Lord Cur
ION 90 long as he remains silent this test
question of Unionist policy. VIII have the unqus
distinction Of mystery man. He will be the
only member of the upper house who has not
declared himself either Free Trader OF as
Balfourist
notwithstanding Lord Curzon's inscrutabls
preference for the House Of Lords and the
prominent part taken by Lord Cron1er and Lord
Milner in economic discussion, II Is evident that
the House of Commons is the forum where the
great questions Of the day effectively de-
bated. Under e system of representative gov
ernment there must be Of responsibility
for political opinion and action. and this Is felt
in the lower house. where the members ars IN
touch with the electorate and forced 70
retire when they rnisrepresent their constituents
The questions now uppermost in English pol
itics affect primarily and deeply taxpayers and
consumers The development Of sea power IN
consequence of foreign alliances and increased
national prestige. the financing Of social re-
FORMS which organized trades unionism il
pressing upon the attention OF Parliament. and
changes in the fiscal system by which fInperial
federation VIII be facilitated are matters Of
profound interest 10 the main body Of income
taxpayers and working people The ultinnats
decision in these questions OF financial policy
rests with the general electorate, and the House
of Commons IS armed by 1t with full responsi-
bility. Lord Crorner and Lord Milner would
speak with increased authority IL they were
great Commoners. Lord Curzon's intervention
I'm fiscal policy whenever it comes Will be less
effective from the upper chamber than It would
have been II he had waited for the general elec-
tion and stood for some borough or county d.
vision
AS England grows more democratic and in
terest in financial and economic issues becomes
| paramount membership IN the upper house
| will be an increasing source OF embarrassment
| to men of political talent The Prime Minister
understands this and while broken in health
! and overstrained by official lab0rs. is ciing1ns
| desperately to his seat in the Commons An act
enabling members OF the House Of Lords 10 re-
liuquish their privileges at their own option ana
| to stand for election to the Commons woula
/ be welcomed by Lord Rosebery and other peers
| who know where the real centre OF poltedA
| power and influence lies. man Of genius lo'
political life as Lord Curzon unquesttonanty l.
| NAV find retirement more absolute WITHIN ,n7
| privileged chamber than outside Parliament
/ The younger sons OF titled families DO no.
| have refuge in the upper house, but are rol'e"
| TO adjust themselves to political CONDITIONS ..
| TO remain out of public life There IS Lo'.
| Hugh Cecil for example. man Of force anu u
| brilliant capacity for debate. who has apPA4
| entity ended his career before he has fairly oe-
Gun if A Conservative of the most uncoTipfo