The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-10
nv RUDOLPH DE zArr

King George V will take on the occasion
of his coronation by great majority,
thereby indicating the attitude of the
people on the question. present indica-
lions point 10 the fact that the measure
VIII meet with most strenuous opposi-
ton. in the House Of Lords. where the
''Lofss Spiritual" have girded their loins
TO defeat a change Of the present form
OF the oath. which is SO highly obnoxious
not only to the Catholic subjects of the
British institutions. but 10 innumerable
otsser loyal supporters Of British insti-
tutions not members Of the Catholic
Church
Twenty-four bishops and two arch
bishops CT the English Church have 81
ways been entitled to sic IN the House or
Lords. forming the Lords Spiritual of
the upper chamber. Throughout the past
these bishops have steadily opposed
nearly every measure OF popular re-
form. The records Of the British parlia-
meat are proof OF this inecntrovertible
assertion
Il Is almost Incredible that for years
the bishops In the House OF Lords were
the most bitter opponents Of measures
TO remove the death penalty which at
tached ia the early days TO minor Of
lenses. It was some years ago. in Eng
land, death 10 steal sl25 worth of goods
from shop. to cut down 3 cherry tree.
TO kin sheep, or TO pick pocket. When
theybin was introduced into the House
of Lords for abolshing the death penalty
for shop-llfting and other trivial offenses
seven bishops voted against the meas
ure It was not until 1861. after constant
opposition on the part OF the Lords
Spiritual" that the death penalty was
restricted 10 high treason and murder.
With reference TO popular education,
measures for this object have always
been opposed by the bishops. When one
OF the great bills for popular education
was brought up some years ago in the
House Of Lords, the Bishop OF Exeter
(salary 81, 600 a year, said: Looking
10 the poor as a class, they could not
expect that those who were assigned by
Providence to the labOrious occupations
of life should be able largely to culti-
vate their intelleets" For many years
bishops in the House OF Lords opposed
every measure Of popular education;
and even wanted TO deprive the children
OF miners OF the right TO attend school
AS TO popular government and the ex-
tension of the vote at elections, bishops
of the church have been found 10 have
opposed every measure Of this kind.
Manhood suffrage and voting by ballot
was vigorously opposed by the bishops
in the House Of Lords until the bill was
finally carried over their heads. When
home rule for ireland came up IN 1885
twenty-five bishops voted against il AL
most every measure proposed by the
House OF Commons for popular govern
ment has met with opposition by the
church party in the upper house, who
have always voted solidly with the
House Of Lords
1t Is a singular fact that the bishops
have voted fer most Of the wars in which
England has engaged in recent years
They were always found lined up on the
side of the party wanting to fight. and
they took no part whatever in the vari-
Gus measures brought forward from time
TO time for the purpose Of encouraging
arbitration between nations. During tbs
Boer war not one bishop raised a pro-
test ia the upper house, though many
laynen and members both Of the House
OF Lords and Commons openly denounced
the South American campaign.
The strong socialfstic and labor party
which has grown up in recent years II
England has declared open warfare or
the prelates in the upper chamber, owing
mainly TO the stand they have taken ir
working classes generally. When a bill
was introduced not many years ago foI
limiting the employment of child labor II
cotton mills only one bishop out o.
twenty-four was in favor Of the measure
When ''sociaiistic tendencies" headed
by Robert Owen. first began to crop up
the Bishop of Exeter. supported by th'
late Bishop OF London, presented peti
tons urging the government TO adopt re
pressive measures against Socialism
and the labor movement of the day wa!
denounced. When Lord Brougham movet
that an inquiry should be adopted int
the distress of the countryside bishops
opposed the measure. and when the EN-
ployers' liability act was up in the Hous'
of Lords the bishops did all in thei
power to render the measure abOTtive
The Bishop Of Peterboro SALARY S22,5Oo ;
year, has openly opposed laborers' union
Of every kind.
The English bishops were against tn
repeal Of Jewish disabilities. IN 1888 IN
Lords threw out the bill TO repeal tn
disabilities under which the Jews labored
~ 70 rfp rfs rnf all
agreed that "the moral and intellectual
capacity OF the Jews was not such as Il
entitle them 10 any share in the legisla
ture," and twenty bishops voted agains
the bill These measures were hnall.
forced through the House Of Lords. de
spite the bishops.
Among the various popular measure
which have met with strenuous opposi
ZION by the bishops might be mentione
the following: The reform or the cTfnlina
law: retaining the death penalty 70
trivial offenses: popular free education
the repeal Of Jewish disabilities; the open
ing Of universities; the reform bin 70
adult voting: bills for the improvement
of factories and workshops. and 70
the regulation Of women and child labor.
Considering the power exercised b.
The bishops who sit in the House 0
Lords. it viii be seen that the mere poiit
zeal influence of the Church Of Englan
is enormous. When this influence is ex
erted, as IL nearly always has been. 4
bringing about the defeat OF popuia
measures proposed by the House OF Com
mons, the power OF the Church of Eng
land as used against the people, Is onl
second 10 that of the House OF Lords IL