The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-24
ENGLISH L|BE RAIL
PARTY CONFIDENT.
Budget Has Been Accepted, and
Its Forces Are in
Line.
------------.
UNITED FRONT PRESENTED
Pressing Forward to Challenge
Peers and Take Away Their
Veto.
UNITED FRONT PRESENTED
ny ,,ILLIAM II. STEAD.

London. April 23.--Last week the
English Liberals were almost in de-
SPAR; this week thoy are almost alb
aurdly confident
Last week they were ruefully an
ticipating that the ministry would be
defeated Monday night. when the
motion was made to take the time OF
the House for discussion of the
budget; this week they are full OF
exultation. for the budget has been
accepted. The observation-disclosures
forces arc once more in line. and with
n solid majority OF 100 are pressing
on with a united front to challenges
the authority Of tho peers.
Last week the Cabinet nearly went
70 pieces. Some ministers entertained
ana expressed with great freedom
their objection to the proposal MADE
by Mr.. AsauIth and ultimately carried
out that IL tho Lords rejected the veto
bill he would appeal TO the crown
and bring them 10 heel The only
method of doing this entertained oy
the Cabinet is that Of advising the
crown TO create 800 new members 10
override the obstructive heredltary
Lords Asouith did not in set terms
der,aro his intention to give this adj
vice. but his language was interpreted
Immediately TO have that meaning By
Balfour. and was enthusiastically &C.
cep.ed in tliat-scnse by the Lioerai
rank and file.
Asanith quits IT up' to King.
Ayqui.h's words were guarded. HIS
first step after the Lords had rejected
IN veto bill would he TO inform His
Majesty what the King knows very
we'll already. that II the veto is to be
abolished In this Parliament he must
ask tho crown TO create new peers
He will not, however. advise such
stem being taken until after another
election. He VIII either resign or ASK
the King To dissolve Parliament.
II the latter alternative Is taken
ho viii warn His Majesty in advance
that n he should come back With
majority he will refuse to continue In
ofrlcn until tho King IS willing to be
advised TO make 500 new peers. ihc
king will not be asked TO pledge him
self In advance 10 assent to the ADVICE.
Asnuith will give Il as contingency
contemplated. Re will. however, be
formally Informed of the only condl-
.,on on which the Liberals viii be, cor
tent 10 serve him in future. and the
General election viii be fought out
on the clear understanding that every
vote cast for the Liberals Is vote
cast for creating 500 Liberal peers by
tho prerogative OF the crown
Revolution seems Imminent.
If the issue should he thus forced
both parties will be playing double or
QUITS. II the Liberals win. the Con-
seryatives declare, the result will be
the establishment OF a single cham
Der of the government: II the Liberals
lose. England passes for an indefinite
time under the ruie of tho Lords. and
half the nation will be reduced 10 a
condition of political Helots. Out OF
this political scrvitude they Will only
be able TO escape by more or less
violet revolution.
No one knows how the constituencies
would vote. The Liberals profess that
IL secure Of a majority of one. they
will insist upon the right TO advise
which is the constitutional iargon for
command to the King TO create tho
requisite number of new peers.
There are no legal difficulties in the
way Of creating peers by prerofative
but such a wholesale creation would
be unprecedented and unconstitutional
and would be resisted by the heredt
tary peers to the last gasp. In that
case the exercise of tho royal preroga-
tive would only have precipitated a
far more dangerous collision between
the two houses than what it was In.
tended to prevent,
Only Chance n Compromise.
1t is hoped that at the last moment
the King MAY persuade or compel the
party leaders to agree upon some COM
promise that will give the Liberals q
sporting chance of obtaining a ma.
jority in tho House of Lords. The only
way this can be done will be by Civ.
ing the crown at the beginning OF
each Parliament the right to nominate
members of the upper house on the
advice of his ministers, ION the under
standing that tho political complexion
of a majority of the Lords must cor,
respond with the political complexion
of majority of the nation as regis
tered at the polls.
compromise to-day or a revolution
ut some near future date are the al.
ternstives. Tho question of the houl
is whether the King will be wise OF
strong enough to compel the Tor,
party to make a concession, which
alono Will avert a revolution.
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