The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23
KINGS SCEPTRE IS
SWORD or PEOPLE
How English Make the Crown
: Servant of Democracy in
Modern State.
BY WILLIAM II. STEAD.

Especial Cable to The Times Dis atch)
London, July 22-Nothing as n rule
is SO embarrassing TO the public rs
details of the political and party CON
troversies in other countries. But the
present crisis in England is excep-
ton. for among other things it Illus
trateS in a clearer and most simple
fashion how the English have solved
the problem of utilizing the monarchy
so as TO make the crown the servant
of the democracy in the modern
state.
1t is as interesting as u game of
baseball to watch the way in which
the King is being used to secure the
triumph of the people. Without the
monarchy. the common people would
be powerless to break the yoke of the
peers. Other nations have cashiered
these Kings The English being OF
practical turn of mind have not
abolished their throne, but have pre-
served it in order to throw 1t into the
scale in their favor when the balance
is wavering betT6en Lords and Com
mons Hence the Kings sccptre, in
stead Of being the symbol of personal
power. has become the sword OF the
people, without which they would be
powerless in their conflict with the
aristocracy.
English Politics Simple.
The rules OF the game OF English
politics are few and very simple. 1t
is much less complicated than n gamo
of chess. AS in chess no game can be
Won without the king is checkmated
so in English politics. in the last resort
the people cannot use the King
against the peers. until they rendered
1t impossible to do anything else but
obey their Will. The way In which the
King is converted into an automatic
weapon doing the peoples Will Is
simplicity itself.
The Lords and Commons disagree
A constitutional deadlock arises Tho
Cabinet advises the King to dissolve
Parliament, and appeal To the people
to decide the issue. This was done
when the Lords rejected the budget
The people returned majority against
the peers This was the first move
towards checkmate. The Commons
proposed to curtail the veto OF the
Lords on legislation. The peers refuse
their assent. The Cabinet might then
have called upon the King to create
sufficient new peers to pass the veto
bill. But If they had done SO the King
was allowed by the Constitution to
dismiss his ministers, and summon Mr..
Balfour to form new Cabinet and
! appeal to the country on the direct
issue.
Mr. Asquith preferred that ne should
remain in office while the second ap-
peal was made to the country. He
therefore did not ask for new peers
when his request might have been re-
fused. He asked for a second appeal
to the constituencies because. accord
ing to the rules of the game, he would
i be entitled to Insist II the election
went decisively in his favor upon the
creation of as many peers as were
necessary to carry the veto bill The
King dissolved Parliament and the
new House of Commons was elected
with n solid majority of more than
100 against the peers. This was the
| second move towards checkmate
The veto bill was sent up to the
Lords. and by the Lords transformed
| into measure confirming their own
power and making themselves the
dominent power in the state Now the
moment approaches for the climax of
the crisis. The King is summoned to
make. say, 500 new peers. He feels
abont him like king in chess, trying
whether he can find a way OF escape.
| IT is the rule of tho game that the
! King can only govern through minis
ters. 1t is another rule that no one
can be a minister of the King who
| cannot obtain from the Commons tina
| supplies necessary for carrying on the
/
man to whom he could turn as an al
Tentative minister to Mr. Askuith, is
| MIR. Balfour. Bur, MIR. Balfour could not
| secure from the present House Of
! Commons one red cent for the serylcd
| of the state If he were Minister of the
| crown. That way of escape is barred
! Only One ForlOrn Hone.
| mere remains only one forlorn, the
! fcrlornest hope of forlorn hopes II
| Ar. bh Tour would venture to challenge
| a third appeal to the people, the King
! might again dissolve Parliament and
! await the recall. 1t would DO n dan
serous move for the crown. but the
king Would be entitled to take it&if
Mr.. Baiiour would take office in order
to appeal to the country. The king
IN all probability would not give MIR
Baiiour tho chance. Kings do not
gamble with their crowns assist
! the interest OF party leader. stu
ne might do 1t 1t is within the rules
! OF the game. therefore, it Is N posi-
| bility TO be taken into account
! But 1t is clear that MIR. BaIfour Will
not race the responsibility OF advising
third appeal to the people. His
party managers and his party papers
Commons. all assure him that third
| appeal to the country would result
| in crushing defeat. which would
practically wipe tho Conservative
! party out of existence Therefore. the
| last loophole OF escape disappears.
Must Depend on AsHmith.
Mr.. Asquith is the only minister
| through whom the King can govern
| the country. Mr.. Balfour admits that
/ he cannot carry on tho government
! with the present House of Commons
Neither dare he challenge an appeal TO
! tho constituencies. This fact being
duly declared. the game is won. The