Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27


even inclined in the dilemma to look for
relief from the suffrages Of the women,
who have always made good in every un-
dertaking. For many reasons I was hos
tile to the liberals, but as began to study
the situation carefully from both sides and
to get into the real history Of the House
Of Lords, / changed my Views and became
willing to swallow objectionable doses OF
socialism and ready to renounce the bene-
fits Of tariff reform. and 7 thought that
saw clearly as the days went on that
the liberals were really making a great
fight for civil and religious liberty.
FiEht Not an Equal One.
This fight has. however, been an unequal
one. Money. church. liquor and land,
formidable host have peen allies under
the conservative banner. Furthermore, not
much more than one-half Of the male
ADULTS have the right Of suffrage. rich
man can vote wherever he owns certain
kind Of property, and in some cases they
vote fifteen or twenty times. This is
made easy, because elections are not held
on the same day, but are extended over
Period of three weeks. The powerful Es-
tablished Church OF England is decidedly
tory and its ministers are accused OF
being tory political agents, with how much
truth l do not undertake to say. I feel
sure that undue pressure was brought to
bear upon the poor tenant. His promise
to vote right was exacted, and be II said
to the honor Of an Englishman that he
makes his promise good. John Bull is
but a poor liar. II is interesting 20 note
that the Daily News, a powerful liberal
newspaper, for several days prior to cleo
ton gave this advice to the rural voters
Never mind who takes you to Nthe polls
Vote liberal. The ballot is secret as the
grave" 1 have nothing TO say as to the
ethical quality Of this advice and am not
able to say how far It was followed.
II one is to be au fait in English society
he had better be tory. 1t is probable,
however. that the real nobility are not
80 particular as those who ape them. with
these latter bulwarks of the empire it is
a de rlguer matter. Several sensible and
charming ladies have told us that they
would not have a liberal to the house to
dine for fear It might vex or corrupt their
dear husbands AS to Americans, how
ever. 1t is another matter; they are ex-
peoted to be liberal, the sacred and divine
truth OF class superiority has not been re-
vealed to them, and they are not held ac-
countable. Again the universities are hot
beds for conservatism and the tory party
is sure OF nine members Of Parliament
from these sources. Strange to say Lon
don is strongly conservative One is sur
prised to find that the very man who has
greatest reason to be liberal is strongly
conservative Suffice 1t to say that in
my judgment there is going to be a great
change time goes on in the returns
from London.
Advantages of HecklinE.
have seen much mention in The Bee
OF the heckling that took place in the meet
ings. Those reports were true. The con-
servative meetings were constantly inter
rupted and the poor lords had to retire
early from the rostrum. 1t would be indeed
deplorable II freedom OF speech were in
terfered with in an Anglo-Saxon country
This heckling, however, cannot be said to
have gone to that extent at all. Bear in
mind that there are bounds Of human en-
durande, Think for a moment Of the
kind OF speech you would get from such
lights as the earl OF Yarmouth, the duke
of Marlborough, or the noble Lord So and
So, who rides 50 we'll to the hounds and
tells in such a patronizing way of his gifts
OF brace of rabbits to the poor II these
lords by any chance talk sense we'll and
good, but IL their arguments are medieval
and insulting to the intelligence is 1t any
harm to question them a bit2 1t was the
conservative meetings that made me a
liberal and Mrs. Crawford a heckler.
The average English political meeting is
as antiquated as many other things here,
and can hardly be said to be helpful for
any purpose The chief speaker makes a
short speech without the slightest attempt
at oratory. He deals in generalities. The
public are invited to hand up questions to
be answered. They do so to the extent Of
at least fifty. He takes them one by one
and In a veneVolent and masterful way,
consuming much time. disposes of them
In generalities even more glittering. Then
some man, almost sure to be q fool, gets
up and makes a motion that the meeting
indorse the candidate and makes a long
speech befitting his role. Another worthy
seconds the motion In a long speech, say
ing the same thing. The chairman an
nounces that the speaker has stood the
probation. has answered all the questions
not a single one being omitted and par
consequent is entitled to his reward. The
motion is put and always 90 carried.
Every conservative meeting attended
was crowded with liberals and several
tights took place In each, arising out Of In
terruptions and questioning.
Conservatives Avoid HuAtinKs.
The conservatives were without speakers
OF merit throughout the whole campaign
The dukes were early scared off the field
Mr.. Balfour was sick all the time item
Lord Miner. item Lord Cromer, item Lord
Lansdowne. Lord Curzon, chancellor OF
this university. though really a sick man
alone showed courage and took the stump
He made several able speeches and had
the courage to argue before the people thai
the hereditary principle was the better
principle of government. 1t was of ad-
vantage that some one in the party take
advanced ground. Lord Curzon was the
scapegoat and his reputation throughout
England has suffered in consequence. II
seems strange, but It is true that practi.
cally the only voice raised in all England
In favor of the hereditary principle In
Parliament was that OF Lord Curzon. and
yet the whole conservative party is fight
ing to the death to maintain that very
principle which they dare not and can not
for one moment defend and sustain. The
! conservatives becloud the issue by claim
Ing that they are fighting for the ex-
istence Of a second chamber, whereas not
a man in England has anything against a
second chamber, provided the hereditary
| principle is done away with. The liberals