Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-06

In this respect the situation is much the
same as It is in the United States, where
both republican and democratic parties are
divided into conservative and radical
groups For that reason there is a chance
that the present negotiations held under
the presidency Of King George, between
Mr. Asquith, as head OF the government
and the liberal party, and Mr. Balfour, as
head OF the opposition and the conservative
party, may result in a compromise which
will postpone the elimination Of the crisis.
But as soon as another election is held,
and that cannot be much later than next
May, when the new king will be crowned,
all of the old issues will come up again
and the struggle between privilege and
aristocracy on the one hand and industry
and democracy on the other will be re-
sumed.
OF course, the most powerful factor in
the efforts to bring about compromise
is finance. The financial element is not
a partisan In politics, but It always is
Interested In Great Britain the financial
element is interested in privilege on the
one side and in industry on the other. but
It cares nothing whatever for either the
aristocracy or the democracy.
Now, in actual political practice II came
about that the liberals had a large ma
| jority of the House OF Commons. In the
course of three or four years the house
passed many progressive measures, only
! to see them defeated in the House OF
Lords. Since the time OF Oliver Cromwell
the commons had exercised sole and COM
plete control over the revenues and ex-
penditures Of the government But until
1907 the commons had been controlled by
| In In, uyha fha oA,,t
introduced the annual budget It was found
to contain revolutionary provision for
a tax on land. Contrary to the constitu-
tional presidents of three centuries, the
House OF Lords refused to pass the budget.
Parliament was dissolved and the whole
question was refer ed to the people in the
general election OF last January.
But the Issue was not clear. The liberals
attempted to make their fight on the issue
of peers VS.. people, but the conservatives
countered with the demand for tariff re-
form, which in Great Britain means pro-
lection and with the German war scare,
while religion the liquor question and q
great many other questions became mixed
up in the struggle. 1t was one Of the most
exciting campaigns in the history OF popu-
lar elections
When the polling was over it was found
as the result of a coalition with the labor
party and the Irish natlonalists, the Irish
possessing the power to end the govern
ments career at any time by voting with
their enemies, the tories and unionists.
Political choas threatened, but the Liberal
| leaders decided before all else to insist
that the House of Commons has complete
| and absolute power in all matters Of taxa
| ton and revenue, entirely free from the
| action or will OF the House of Lords This
proposal was known as the abolition of
the veto. The Lords passed the Lloyd
George budget. land taxes and all. In
obedience to the will of the people as ex-
pressed in the election.
Then both parties squared themselves for
a great constitutional battle. knowing that
parliamentary action must be followed
by another general appeal to the country.
The liberals were about to insist upon
practical abolition of the House of Lords.
so that the party in power in the Com
mons might be able to make its legislative
program effective despite the permanent
conservative majority in the upper house.
The conservatives were about to propose
reform of the House OF Lords, which
would strip it of some admittedly obtec-
tionable features, but which would leave
1t stronger and more powerful than ever,
and just about as reliably conservative.
Before the first shot was fired in this
great battle the whole nuron was bowed
in sorrow and grief by the death of King
Edward. That melancholy event, and the
succession of King George brought about
the declaration Of the truce which now
holds.
1t is the purpose of this series Of articles
to tell in simple fashion what the crisis
n both tn H..
ish people and to the rest OF the world.
and to give a review of the events which
have led up to the present situation, q situ-
alton in which Great Britain faces the
possibility Of a foreign war with a power
full military state, and at the same time 3
is concerned with a social and political
revolution at home.
Bx FREDERI0 =. HAsKINg,
Tomorrow-ThO British Orisis-xY Ths
German Menace.