Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-03-13
AN UPPER HOUSE A NECESSITY.

AN UPPER HOUSE "A NECESSITY.
One of the most interesting COM
mentaries on the constitutional crisis
now on in England is that contributed
by Hon. Hannis Taylor, formerly
United States minister to Spain, the
author of a work on the Origin and
Growth of the Englisb Constitution
that is accepted as a standard author
ity, and otherwise peculiarly equipped
to intelligently and authoritatiyely dis
cuss the movement to abolish or re-
form the House of Lords
Mr.. Taylor points out that England
is the mother of Parliaments and the
creator of the bicameral type of legis-
lative assemblies, that is the two
house form of government. Up to the
time of the creation of the American
Congress England was the only coun-
try in the world with a parliament.
| From its example and the additional
inspiration given to popular govern
ment by the United States have come
the numerous parliaments of to-day
including the latest addition, that of
Japan.
1t would be a great error of judg-
ment, and fraught with much danger
to genuine liberty, Mr.. Taylor believes
/ for England to establish a single house
as its governing body. From such an
example a similar trend would doubt
less be developed in other countries
Instead of abolishdng the House OF
Lords he expresses the hope that Eng
land will simply amend it, along the
lines that Spain adopted when Castillo
in 1876, drafted the existing constitu-
ton. BY such course the wisdom
learning, and patriotism of the country
could be thoroughly represented il
the upper House and some of the fin
est elements of craftsmanship anC
character there be brought into the
service of the nation. Celebrating his
views M. Taylor says:
Every one knows that the Scotcl
and Irish peerages are represented a
Westminster in the persons of peers
elected as representatives by each. 1
would be veg easy to extend tina
system to I'll English peerage b!
limiting it's presentation in the up
per house tn eers chosen in the same
OIo fI n
the 10 Storage liter being sever
ed am The drones y bring only re
prog ID could be- fitted in bod
whoS existence j prevent an,
abrupS break WITT past. To tina
body cffSotbe add the life senator
to be fAnted by the crown from
those TS#Sse genius and patriotism de
mand such recognition. A decided ma
jority over all should then consist 0
senators elected for a certain term o
years directly by the people. In sue
senate would be assembled as neve
before the flower of the British empire
There is no reason why the Englis
democracy should not be willing t
regard an upper chamber thus con
stituted, whose control would remain
in its hands, just as the America
Democracy regards the Senate of tn
United States All special students 0
our system clearly understand tina
since our popular chamber has cease
to be a forum for debate, the Senat
has become our most effective orga1
of legislation. If it were not for it
iniative through the amending powe
it would now be almost impossible TO
our great affairs to be carried on
our experience is worth anything t
England it is demonstration of tn
fact that a vast democracy charge
with the administration of expandin
and worldwide interests can not eff
) fectively discharge it's functions with
1 out senate of commanding authority
. Such senate has been a necessity t.
8 every world power that ever existed.
1t is a settled conviction that tn
unity of the British empire depend
), upon the irresistible strength @
! England's tWo-chamber parliament, h
whose authority a widely scattered an
: incoherent mass of dependencies i
1 held together. In the gorgeous phras
e of Burke the bicameral parliament q
e Great Britain sits at the head of he
= extensive empire in an "imperia
character, in which, as from tn
: throne of heaven, she superintends al
: the inferior legislatures, and guide
e and controls them all. without annihil
6 ating any 1t would certainly be
rash experiment for England to shat
ter that ideal by destroying her dua
t creation, which has become a standar
: OF imitation, just at the moment whe
. her internal needs would seem to re
quire the protection against popula
!, excuses it is Sunnosed tn afford