New-York tribune., 1910-11-27
Ex-Attache Describes Some of Its Peculiarities Its
Shortcomings and Its Yearning
for 1Ore Power

copyright. 1910. by the Brentwood Company
Frclands National Legislature has
often been described as the Mother OF
Parliaments. and as a model for popular
assemblies IN all those countries where
representative government that is 20
say. government for the people. by the
people. has been obtained from the
Crown. either by favor or by force. The
news. therefore. that the House of
Commons Is bent upon obtaining, if not
q divorce. at any rate a judicial separa-
ton from the House Of Lords. and that
TWO Of the three component parts of
Parliament have found themselves un-
able 10 work any longer in unison. after
many hundreds of years Of existence in
common. naturally excited interest in
every quarter Of the globe
The Commons have always been dis
a.osed 70 arrcgate To themselves the
greater share Of the powers Of the
partnership. Now they wish TO monop-
aIfzo them altogether: TO transform the
registering the DEGREES Of the lower
house. without any right Of discussion
or rejection In fact. If the government
ha- rs way. the Lords VIII be reduced
70 sa-h a state Of impCtency as to prac-
-irsnz transform Parliament into sin
g chamber
Fxr-~ience however. has shown that
governments 10y means Of a single cham
her ara irpractfcahle. and We have be
fore Us. as IN illustration thereof the
.r,e,-s-Ia. of Greece. where men Of every
Y,olf-frsI rartv Interested in the welfare
of the nation have expressed them
solves ia favor Of the constitution Of a
Senate. or some sort of an upper house
10 the BouIt as the only means Of ex-
Treating the country from the legisla-
rive f--uasse in which il has been fioun-
der5n- for So many years. involving the
country in ruin at home and discredit
abroad
Here II America It is impossible to
conceive the government Of the Union.
or - any state. being administered save |
through an upper and q lower chamber, |
H. former existing II order TO consti- |
---a some restraint upon hasty. reckless. |
and uossiblv SociaIistic legislation by the /
lower chamber Yet II is something
v4rE much akin 10 the abolition of the |
r-rle~ chamber that is now being sought |
by The Liberals in Great Britain. on the
eraE~d that the parliamentary machine |
which has done duty Tor so many GEN. |
zu-ies Is no longer workable.
Dr course. on the face Of it, the dis
position abroad. especially in republican
countries. Is 10 synapathize with the Lib
erals. and TO regard the House Of Lords
as relic Of medieval absoiutisn, and
cf e--ss privilege, altogether out Of keep
in- with the democracy Of life in the
twentieth century. But q little calm re-
fiction soon gives birth to the conviC- /
uo1 that q House Of Lords which IS
ready 70 reform itself by the abandon /
ue-- Of hereditary rights 10 a seat on its /
benches Is quite as desirable q safe |
guard 70 The British Parliament as the !
United States Senate is 10 Congress at
Washington, and that If the parlia-
neutary machine IN England is 10
longer IN q working condition. il is due
Commons: that the latter, with its ap-
parent inability 10 distinguish between |
questions Of imperial Importance and
matters that are merely parochial. and
with its archaic fo-malities and unsatis-
factory composition. is quite as mucn
4 need Of reform as the House Of Lords,
and quite as much TO blame for the
parliamentary deadlock which has been
reatNed-
For deadlock il is: and it is because
Gr=at Britain's Parliament has ceased
L 5e workable that just at the present
moment the eyes Of thoughtful people in
every part Of the universe, in North as
vel as in South America. in Japan, in
China IN India, in Africa, Australia,
anG n the Wilds Of Siberia, as well as
everywhere II Europe, are concentrated