The Washington herald., 1909-10-10
Nv EX-ATTACHE.

mental figure heads, than the part which
they are ever and anon called upon 20
play In the moments 90 political crlse.
The role is that OF arbiter between the
various factions Of parliamentary life.
In countries where the people have a
voice in the government the legislature
IS always divided up into a series OF
rival camps, and the cabinet is usually
recruited from the one that can COM
mand the largest number of supporters
in the lower chamber
The sovereign is required by the spir-
H. and in some instances by the letter
OF the constitution. to refrain from dis
playing preference for any particular
party. beyond cooperating with the or ,
that happens 20 be in office. But 2. "a
sions sometimes arise where the Gu,
endeavors 10 take advantage OF rs La
jority in the lower house of the nation
al legislature. TO enact measures that are
opposed as unjust, and even as uncon-
stitutional. by the minority and which
are altogether rejected by the upper
house. a deadlock ensues. and the ma
ton thereupon looks to the sovereign to
find some solution of the problem. and
terminate the crisis.
II then becomes the monarch's duty
20 protect the minority from undue op-
preston by the majority: not so much by
championng their cause. as by persuad-
ing the party in Office to modify their
projects in such a fashion as to refrain
from the appearance OF undue oppression.
For king is supposed to have the in
terests OF all his subjects equally at
heart-not alone those Of any political
party. even II Il be in ofiice-and. IN last
resort. it is to him that the minority
look FOR protection against tyranny on
the part Of the majority.
Such a crisis has now arisen I'm Eng
land. where the Liberals. now I'm control
o. the government. are taking advantage
OF their numerical superiority in the
House Of Commons. TO endeavor TO Sc
cure the Inauguration Of an altogether
new fiscal system. At the time OF the
last general election. nearly five years
ago the people were kept I'm the dark
as u the intentions OF the Liberal lead
ers with regard TO the revolutionary
programme of taxation. II was only
after the Liberals had defeated. at thI
polls. the CniOnsts until then in power
and had firmly established themselves in
Office. a couple Of years later. that they
first propounded the fiscal measures 70
which the Asquith administration is
now committed.
The people at large. therefore. have
never yet had an opportunity OF giving
expression % their views on the subject
Of the bills devised by the Welsh-bOrn
Chancellor OF the Exchequer Lloyd
George. and we're the bills (Which rot
property-owners Of their possessions bI
means OF taxation, so Onerous as q
render them untenable). TO become law
without further ado. 1t would prove a
dangerous kind Of class legislation, as
we'll as a tyrannical abuse Of power.
While the passage OF the Lloyd-George
bills through the lower house is assured.
by virtue Of the Liberal majority, there
IS not the slightest prospect Of their
being sanctioned in their present form
by the House Of Lords, the consent OF
which, as well as that Of the sovereign.
is Indispensable. in order TO convert them
into laws OF the land.
The lords insist that measures OF so
revolutionary a character. as those of
the government. should be submitted 10
the nation, by means Of a general cleo
ton, for an expression OF its opinion
a. the polls before being placed on the
statute book.
The Liberals are. however, not content
with this. There is considerable reason
20 believe that they fear defeat at a gen
eral election II # is fought out on the
plain issue Of the merits OF the Lloyd
George bills So they threaten. in the
event Of general election. to include I'm
their platform. not merely their financial
measures. but also an even stin more
revolutionary appeal to the peopla
against the House or Lords. as an alleged
OBSTACLE 20 all progressive legislation
some OF the members OF the government
even irttmating that they would be dis
posed to advocate the complete reorgan-
ization, or failing that. the abolition OF
the upper house Of the national legis-
lature.
Such action or their part would con
Btitute a direct Indictment OF the masses
against the classes, Of tho poor and pen
niless against the owners OF property
The avowed object OF the Lloyd-George
measures Is TO tax property owners for
the purpose Of providing maintenance FOR
the poor. in the shape OF old age pen
slons and other equally socialistic
schemes, designed 10 exploit the thrifty
and the useful members Of the commu-
nifty possessed OF vested interests. for
the benefit OF the improvident and the
useless.
II would be a course pregnant with
danger, not only 20 all the ancient insti-
tutions of popular government in Eng
land. which have served as the original
model TO nearly every other constitution
al nation In the world, but also TO the
economic grandeur and importance OF
the British empire tending 20 drive cap
iital and trade out OF the country and
discourage industry
II might even result in the upsetting
OF the throne. For in England, as IN 9th
er countries. when the masses have once
been wrought up by demagogic appeals to
unreasoning passion, there is no know
ing where they will stop, and the decline
and fall Of Great Britain. which English
Cassandras are so fond OF predicting,
might come, not. as they prophesy, from
foreign invasion. but from discord
within.
No one Is more keenly alive 10 the
alarming possibilities OF the present SIT
uation than Edward VII That Is why
he has taken advantage OF his sojourn at
Balmoral. 10 confer with a number of
the leading statesmen OF England. who
are not in office. And that is why, too,
after comforting with them he on Tues
day last summoned the premier in such
hot haste 20 his Highland home. that Mr..
Asquith was compelled to leave the
House Of Commons in the middle Of a de-
bate. and 10 start north without a mo-
ments delay by special train.
It is no secret that the Kings object
&c -
Lords and the Liberal majority in the
House Of Commons. and that he Is above