New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-10

an even still more revolutionary appeal to the
people against the House Of Lords. alleged
obstacle to all progressive legislation. some Of
the members Of the government intimating
that they would be disposed to advocate the
complete reorganization, or, failing that, the
abolition, OF the upper house OF the national
legislature.
Such action on their part would constitute a
direct Indictment Of the masses against the
classes, OF the poor and penniless against the
owners Of property. The avowed object OF the
Iloyd-George measures is to tax property own
ers for the purpose Of providing maintenance
for the poor. in the shape Of old age pensions
and other equally socialistic schemes, designed
10 exploit the thrifty and the useful members
Of the community possessed OF vested interests
for the benefit Of the improvident and the use
less. 1t would be a course pregnant with dan
ger. not only TO all the ancient institutions Of
popular government in England, which have
served as the original model to nearly every
other constitutional nation in the world but
also to the economic grandeur and importance
OF the British Empire, tending to drive capital
and trade out Of the country and to discourage
industry. It might even result in the upsetting
OF the throne. For in England. as in other
countries, when the masses have once been
wrought up by demagogic appeals TO unreason-
ing passion, there is no knowing where they
VIII 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 to the alarming
possibilities of the present situation than Ed
ward VII. That is why he has taken advantage
OF his sojourn at Balmoral to confer with a
number Of the leading statesmen Of England
who are not in Office. and that is why too, after
Wit hem he T1rac IaS
moned the Premier in such hot haste to his
Highland home that Mr. Asquith was compelled
to leave the House OF Commons in the middle OF
debate and TO start north without moments
delay by special train. It is no secret that the
kings object is to avoid war between the House
Of Lords and the Liberal majority in the House
Of Commons. and that he is above all eager to
avert any appeal by the Liberals to the masses
against the upper and senior house of the ma
tional legislature. The only way Of accomplish
ing this is by means Of Cancellation, and by in
ducing the Liberals on the one hand and the
Unionists the other as now represented by
the House Of Lords, since they in a numeri-
cal minority in the lower chamber, TO consent to
mutual concessions.
No one is better qualified for this difficult task
than King Edward. for. while he has been so
tactful and discreet. both as Prince of Wales
and as King. that after the lapse of nearly half
century Of public life no one is able to say
with any certainty that he leans to one or the
other Of the political parties, IT cannot be de-
MED that he IS in a sense committed to certain
Of the least Objectionable phases of the Lloyd
George bills While still heir apparent he was
appointed by the late Queen and by her then
Premier, William Ewart Gladstone, TO the mem
bership of royal commission appointed TO de-
wise some better means for the housing and for
the relief Of the poor. 1t a commission
which was presided over by Sir Charles Dixie,
and which had among its most distinguished
members the late Cardinal Manning. The then
Prince Of Wales took a very active part in the
work OF the commission, attended all its meet
ings. displayed absorbing interest and SYM
psthy in its task. and among the sgners Of
the report which It finally presented TO the gov
eminent and 10 the Crown.
number Of the provisions Of that report are
embodied in the Lloyd-George bills. The King,
therefore, cannot be suspected by the Liberals
OF undue partisanship against their fiscal pro-
gramme. On the contrary, he is virtually com
mitted 10 certain features thereof. This does
not. however. mean that he approves of all of