The Columbus journal., 1910-12-21

journment, "Who goes homer" "Who
goes homer" ~
This is the same spirit that preser.
YES the custom of having every act
and action in the United Kingdom, in
Canada, in Australia, in South Africa
and throughout the selfgoverning de.
Tendencies run in the name of the king,
although the monarch long ago ceased
to rule. He is become the most graci.
GUS and august rubber stamp in the
world.
The British are too conservative
ever to lay the axe to any part of their
institutions and ruthlessly cut it out.
At the same time they are too progress.
sive ever to confine themselves to an
Anticipated structure; they simply en-.
large it as they require room for grow
tn.
Their form of government therefore,
is like an old house, to which wings
and Is have been added by successive
generations and in which the modern
improvements have been installed as
fast as their usefulness has commend.
ell itself to the practical minds of the
occupants.
As the suffrage has been extended
and the people have come more and
more into the government through the
House of Commons, the latter body
has reduced the authority of the House
of Lords, as it formerly curtailed the
authority of the crown. BY success
fully appealing to the people in its dis.
putes with the lords the commons has
been enabled to override them repeat
edly. Their veto power has declined
until they do not venture to question
certain classes of bills at all.
At most, the lords assert the right
to obstruct the passage of bill only
until the Commons has taken the sen.
Sc of the nation on it in new general
election.
This complaisance, however, no
longer appeases public sentiment.
The Liberal, Radical, Labor and Irish
in the Commons have in.
sisted that the lords, like the king
should surrender their veto. A resolu-
ton was passed which provided that
the lords might withhold their assent
from a bill through only two sessions
of Parliament, but fiat later session
the commons should pass it for the
third time, without waiting for a new
election, it should become law re.
CARELESS oftheir objections. The here.
ditary chamber refused to consent to
this really revolutionary proposal, and
now the House of Commons has dis.
solved and the question is before the
people in the present general election.
Whichever side wins, the ccnstitu.
ion will be amended. If the coalition
gains majority in the new House of
Commons the veto resolution will be
'ent to the lords again, and if they
should refuse to accept little commons
would call on the king to aid it in car.
wing out the will of the people. This
all George V would have to obey, |
.ither by agreeing to pack the upper
house with horde of newly made peers
n agreeing to sign all bills thrice pass
ID by the commons, notwithstanding
he opposition of the upper house.
On the other hand, if the Conserva.
ives should win, the House of Lords
would be obliged to recognize. The
,eers themselves were too we'll aware
# the temper of the Nation to stand
n the way. As Lord Rosebery has
aid, The House of Lords has ceased
o exist; it has surrendered its life to
he Nation"
Thanks to the Liberals and Radi.
ais, the Irish and the Laborities, the
ncient principle of an hereditary leg.
'lative chamber has been overthrown.
he lords dared not accept the chall.
nge Of the coalition. They have,
lerefore, fastened to promise a new
nd reformed second chamber, if the
eople will only intrust the task ofre.
rganization to the friends, rather than
he foes, of the peers.-From the Bos.
N Globe.