Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-17
Rosebery's Plans Got
Little Support.

same as if a representative of the Cleve-
land school of democracy attempted to
dictate or shape the policies Of the Bryan
school of that party.
The liberal party won the two general
elections of 1910 by opposing the power Of
the house Of lords to reject a. money bill.
This power had always been asserted by
the lords under the theory that the upper
house was co-equai branch OF the
legislature. but with respect to reyenue
and appropriation bills it had not been
exercised for two centuries until the lords
rejected Mr. Lloyd Georges budget of
1909
These two general elections resulted NOT
only IN the passage of the disputed hudo
ct, but In the enactment of the parliament
act under which home rule for ireland is
now being put through against the protest
OF the house of lords.
Inc parliament act itself recited in Its
preamble that 1T is intended to substitute
Tor the house Of lords as it at present ex
lsts second chamber constituted on a
popular instead of hereditary basis So
lar the liberal party in an official way
foreshadow Its purposes with resnect IN q
new second chamber, ~
mere are two reasons for the lack of
an aggressive program on the part of
the liberals: 70
The first. based on considerations NJ
expediency. is that the liberals desire 70
put through home rule and abolish
plural voting under the present parlia-
ment act before they IRISH establishing
another second chamber that might also
turn out to be conservative.
The other reason, based on a dirYer-
ence In political inspiration, is to be
found in the struggle between the two
wings OF liberalism-radical and whig.
ne RADICALS would probably prefer to get
along without any second chamber al
all. but If one is established as a CO.
equal branch of parliament they would
nave II equally as popular as the COM
mons. That is to say. they would make
no more difference in the qualifications
for members of the new house of lords
and the house of commons than is made
in the United States between qualifica-
tons for a senator and a representa-
tive
The wings. on the other hand. are
still distrustful of a full measure OF
popular government. and they would
prefer a second chamber in which prop
erty would be opposed to popularity by
senators or peers who represented the
great land-owninG interests and the
great manufacturing and commercial in
tereSts.
1t is practically certain that no de-
termination of this vexatious question Is
possible until the Irish DOGGY IS removed
both of the parties decide what will be
their future policy with respect to home
rule all around. The attitude of the
average British politician toward the
subject Is best illustrated by little
story.
An American newspaper man was hay
ing tea with a group of radical members
of parliament on the terrace of parlia-
ment house. One of the members asked
the American what were the Qualifica-
tons Of United States senators. On
being told that senator must be a citi-
zen of the United States. an inhabitant
Of the state from which he was elected
and thirty years of age, and that no
other qualifications existed. the radical
member naively inquired: But how does
that give You any assurance that you
will get wealthy men In the Senator
1t unquestionably ia true. politically
speaking, that even the advanced school
Of democracy in British politics still ia
afraid to abolish all of the peculiar priv
ileges of rank and wealth.