Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

I III lNalA A0l lIe reform or the House OF
Lords Is clear enough to penetrate the
ear drums Of the peers. Party strength
I is practically what it was when the minis
try appealed TO the country, and the APP
prevail OF the liberal party policy must be
regarded as an emphatic vote of confidence
The new Parliament meets January 30
/ 1t is expected the first measure which
the ministry will introduce in the House
Of Commons will be one dealing with the
veto power Of the House Of Lords formu-
lated on the lines drawn by the ministry
iu the April resolutions There Is much
confusion Of ideas regarding the scope OF
the proposed veto measure. IL does not
dispose of the House Of Lords or abolish
the second chamber 1t proposes to re-
strict the right of the partisan majority Of
the peers 20 destroy or defeat measures
based on liberal party policies. ''The prime
cple upon which we take our stand" said
P,.me Minister Asquith in a keynote
speech, is simply this-that I'm demo-
cratic country the chosen representatives
of the people ought TO have the controlling
voice, not only in policy, but in the shap-
ing Of the laws. We have carefully guarded
against possible abuses. BY shortening the
duration of Parliament we bring automati-
cally to an end any House Of Commons as
to which there is any presumption that
II may have outstayed or outlived its
representative authority. Where the two
houses differ we provide for such opportu-
tiles of conference and such an interpos-
ton of delay as would effectually frus-
trate any attempt by a scratch majority 10
rush unpopular legislation out Of touch
with public opinion. We except from the
new arrangement legislation which is in
troduced in the later years OF Parla-
ment until the electorate have had an
opportunity to pronouncing upon IT, It
is subject to all these safeguards, which
prevent any House OF Commons that might
be so minded from stealing a march on
the people, and secure In the second cham
Der large powers of delay and opportun-
tiles for amendment and revision-it Is
subject to these safeguards that we ask
that in future the will of the people as
expressed by their representatives. in the
House of Commons shall within the life
time of a single Parliament be effectively
supreme. No doubt the peers will resist
and resent to the end the proposed lmita-
tons Of their powers. Rejection of the
measure Is anticipated. When that point
is reached the ministry will advise the crea-
ton OF enough new peers TO overcome
the unionist majority. Such is the plan
Of action. What the outcome may be- is
any mans guess. One thing is fairly Ger
tain-John Bull need not look for trouble
beyond his own door.
Several members of the British Parlia-
ment visited New York and vicinity just
before the November election for the pur-
pose of getting a few pointers on Ameri-
can political methods. Their stay was
brief because there was nothing new or
novel to be learned, and they returned to
the British hustings firmly convinced of
their supremacy as political managers and
manipulators. The election now waning
furnishes moving picture Of campaign
tricks, vocal hot air. strenuous ructions
and humor strong enough to break into a
skull without using a chisel. An expatri-
ated son of the American house of Aston
whose collection Of American eagles could
hardly be surpassed. was elected to Par
Lament from the Plymouth division, and
in response to wired congratulations de-
plored "the demorallzing effects of foreign
gold In the hands OF the dollar dictator"
In the hands of an Aston foreign gold"
takes on different hue But the
Historian quality Of humor is funeral be-
side the Corkanlan variety. In the north
east division of rebel Cork" William
O'Brien sprung a ringer in the person of
Moreton Frewen, a party wholly I'M
known there. AS there was no opposi-
ton, Frewen was elected with whoop,
but the whoops changed to Indignation
when the Corkanians discovered that they
had elected a full-blooded tory who was
busy at the time stumping England for
the peers. Mr. Frewen's transition from
Organism in the United States to O'Brien-
ism in Cork is an interesting episode In
international politics. In both cases the
cause advocated met defeat. BY clever
strategy and motor cars the tories tran
sported seventy horse guards from Wind
son to a polling booth in London and
turned a liberal majority of ten into a
tory majority OF eight The spectacle Of
Tim Healy. defeated for reelection for
the first time in twenty years and crying
fraud" at the wake" produces in Irish
nationalist circles that quality of pain
experienced when a thorn Is plucked from
between the ribs. On the other side of the
channel the tories pierce the gloom Of
shattered hopes with vocal versicles fitted
to the air of THE wearing of the Green
sample Of which runs:
Oh. I met with Johnny Redmond.
An he took me by the hand
An he says "Hurroo for Ireland hoy
But things are goin' grand.
Coo bless the Yankee dollars that
I've got In my caubeen;
Sure I'll be king of Erin,
And be crowned at Skibbereen."
Exalted Moguls and majestic mufties or
other kingpins OF American lodges who
have exhausted all available forms Of ter
ror striking obligations, may secure some
variety by trying the siamese. All state
officials Of Siam, In swearing allegiance
TO the new occupant OF the peacock throne
did so in this impressive style: May the
blood flow from my veins, may crocodiIes
devour me, me I be condemned to carry
water 10 the flames of hell in vessels
without bottoms. After death may / enter
the body OF slave. May I suffer the
harshest treatment during all time in
years as numerous as the sands OF all the
seas May 1 be reborn deaf, dumb and
blind and afflicted with dire maladies
May 1 also be thrown into Narok-the
lower regions-snd tortured by Prea Yam,
II break this oath"
In the year 1854 the Light Brigade made
its famous charge at Balaklava. IL was
one of the sublimest exhibitions Of her