The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-15
No COMPROMISE is POSSIBLE.

NO COMPROMISE Is POSSIBLE.
The British Parliament is reassem.
bling. but its leaders are FESTIVE and
uncertain. No man knows what the
morrow will bring forth The Lib.
erals, while reasonably sure of their
majority in the Commons, are positive
that they cannot count upon the
Kings support, and the unionists.
though they know the King will aid
them all he can. are fearful that the
Liberals may force George to approve
their programme. Both parties fear a
general election--the Liberals because
they do not want to bring further
confusion TO trade. the unionists be-
cause they are free to confess that
their chances in a new election will
be even smaller than they We're in
January.
The reform of the House OF Lords is
the great question still pending, and
the issue over which the two parties
seem now unwilling to fight. This
reform was the second part OF AS
outfits general programme and was
lin the making when Edward died 1t
must be settled now and settled to
tile satisfaction of the people. While
the leaders of either party appear un-
willing 10 move, the King has taken
very unusual step and has requested
the Premier TO call conference be-
tween the Liberal and the Unionist
leaders. Such conference. the King
says. may result in a compromise be-
tween the parties and may save Eng
sland from the woes Of another gen
,eral election.
Doubtless the Kings intentions are
honorable, and his hopes may be high.
but there seems little chance that such
a conference would solve the ques-
lions between the Houses Anxious as
MIR. Asquith is to carry through his
reforms and willing as the Lords are
TO make peace at any price, short of
losing their very existence, neither
will hazard compromise The two
parties are as far apart as honest mer
can ne, and compromise would ruiz
either party. Mr. Asquith. for in
stance. is pledged 10 the reform o
the House of Lords. and on the fulal
ment of his pledge depends his major
ity in the Commons. If he show tn
least unwillingness to carry out tn
reform of the Lords, John Redmon
and the Irish Nationalist will at ono
revolt and their revolt will mean tht
loss of the majority in the Commons
If on the other hand, the Lords, sur
render and allow the Commons to re.
form them with their own consent, 1t
will be practically an admission of
their own impotence and will lose the
unionists thousands of votes in the
next election. The Lords are the I'm
ionists. in short and when they cease
10 be Lords. the Unionists in the lower
House might as we'll abandon their
organization.
Besides there;Is really no basis on
which a comptorslse may be reached.
The Lords must either go or stay, OF,
in other words must either have this
power of veto or become simply an
advisory body, without influence in
Shaping the aHalfs oil the Empire. No
one has vet devised a plan whereby
they may have legislative functions
and may still not oppose the manifest
will of the Commons. The only plan
proposed, that Of Sir Alfred Grips, to
appoint enough new Liberal peers to
make the vote In the Lords always
doubtful, is manifestly not practicable
for the creation OF 500 new Liberal
peers would make the upper House
unwieldy and would be bitterly op.
posed by the King.
The end of England's difficulties is
not vet in sight. and the outcome o,
her constitutional chaos is uncertain
One party or the other must surrender
and another election must be held be.
fore England can settle TO her &C
customed peace