New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-12


often have not been. battle cry. 1t
was taken up. Even THE Times"
which in some of these matters carries
caution to the point Of timidity, and
impartiality to the verge of siding with
the enemy. accepted Mr. Balfour's posi-
ton: reimbursing itself for this un-
wonted frankness by pulling to pieces
Mr.. Caves doctrine Of dissolution by
the King.
With Mr.. Balfour out in the open.
with Mr.. Birrell endorsed, with All
omens pointing one way, it was clearly
impossible for the Ministry to leave
matters where Mr. Birrel had tried to
leave them. Other influences vera
swaying them. The signs Of discomfort
among tteir own supporters were evil
dent; and even among themselves,
since this Ministry is by TO means a
unit in respect either Of policy or Of
methods. Mr.. Asquith, at least, has
never pretended that Ulster was a
negligible quantity. He has again
and again declared himself ready 10
listen TO proposals, TO suggestions for
further safeguards; TO anything which |
would minimize the peril Of Civil War:
which lesser men profess to despise or
disbelieve. e knows well that the
support given to Ulster by the Union
ist Leaders, and by the English Union
lists as a party. would be weakened end
M ccihI1. Will al
the Home Rule issue should yield a
majority for Home Rule. He would
risk it if he dared.
He knows also something Of the en-
ergy shown by the mo Home Rule"
stalwarts. re knows Of the appeal TO
the King. How should he not know il |
when 1t is made publicly? Mr.. Arnold
White has made 1t in THE Express"
week after week, and THE Express" IS
paper with a great circulation. Mr.. |
Arnold White is a journalist who hes
access to a numerous public through !
several journals. He is an energetic |
writer and worker. with q great power |
of belief in his own ideals and causes;
with an emphatic style, an imperfect |
respect for conventionalities, and Sc !
rious devotion to what he thinks the |
necessity Of the moment. Obviously, |
such man may impress his enthusi-
asms on a great audience. He has |
shown his hand still more plainly in j
THE People" Sunday paper which |
is supposed to print half a million )
copies. perhaps more. each week. He |
talks Of requiring" the King to do this
or that; an indiscreet phrase Of which /
the very indiscretion is a menace.
But what I mean to say is that, one |
thing following upon another, the !
Prime Minister has ample notice that !
his ostrich policy threatens disaster.
His Home Rule bill and the existence /
Of his Ministry are both threateaed |
and they are threatened no matter |
whether he elects to go to the country |
or elects to force through his bill under
the Parliament Act without the sane
ton of the electorate. Day by day il |
is made palmer TO the people that. as
matters now stand, he is trying TO gov
ern by Parliament and not by the peo- |
pie.
Voluntary dissolution is one way out |
Compulsory dissolution is another |
On the royal Prerogative OF Dissolu- |
ton the weightiest opinion may be
found in Sir William Anson's letter to |
The Times; 10 which journal you !
must still 90 for the more important
literature Of this question. Sir William
Arson Is a great authority on the Con-
stitution and the Law: NJ. p. for OK
ford University these last fourteen !
years; Vice Chancellor Of the Univer-
sity 1SSS-'99; whose treatise on the
Law and Custom Of the Constitution"
is a standard work. He has quality |
rare among men Of his type: the quail
ity of common sense. Of seeing things
as they are. You have to consider he
says, not only constitutional principles
but present facts; and his summary of
present facts is this
THE Government have taken advan-
IdBt VI q VI III Niic
House Of Commons TO deprive the Sec
ond Chamber Of its constitutional right
TO bring about an appeal TO the people
on measures of high importance which
have never been fairly submitted TO
the consideration Of the electorate
!. While this part Of our Constitution is
in allegiance they are pressing on legis-
lation which will shortly lead to civil
war"
Against such a disaster safeguard
is TO be found in the prerogatiVes OIL
the Crown. Sir William Arson ce-
cIines to admit that in these circum-
stances these prerogatives have been
atrophied by disuse. They can still be
! used. but, like other prerogatives. only
! on the advice of the Kings Ministers.
If his present Ministers will not acqui-
| esce in his desire to dissolve. he must
ascertain whether another set OF Min
listers would be prepared to accept the
responsibility Of dissolution.
1T really comes to this. that II the
King should determine, in the interests
Of his people. to take course OF which