The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-16
LETTERS TO EDlTyR
English Aristocracy in Saddle Yet

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
In Mr. p R. Colwell's reply to my let
ter of July q he says that al am APP
parently ignorant of the change in the
constitution of England within the past
decade whereby the opposition OF the
House of Lords can be overcome" l
knew of that change but it has not been
carried into effect yet. When it has. 1t
will be time to cite 1T. I appealed to
facts as they were and are not to I'M
certainties in the distant future Home
rule is not a fact by long odds. nor
likely to be so as long as there Is House
of Lords. A law is like deed. 1t must
be signed, sealed and delivered. 9TH
erwse it is null and void. Home rule has
not been delivered to Ireland yet. The
Parliament of England never honestly in
tended that Ireland should have home
rule. The breaking out of the war was
only an excuse for not granting it two
years ago. If it be true that bill can
be passed over the opposition of the
lords, that home rule bill passed often
enough surely to go into effect. THE
fine Italian hand of Englands reaction
airy aristocracy blocked it. For the going
into effect of home rule under such cir
cumstances would open the floodgates of
reform. Well that aristocracy knew that
after home rule would come disestablish-
ment of the church and then rapid dis
Indignation of the whole fabric of aris-
tocratic privilege would set in. For once
the English voter realized what he could
do with this newly acquired weapon he
would it to some purpose. The re-
form bills of 1882. 81 and 'S4 were nothing
in comparison. The lords knew they
could override the commons to their
hearts content as they do to this day
because they held the right of veto But
when the change of constitution comes
in force the lords and the commons
change places, but not until then. Mr.
Colwell is entirely too previous" In sup
posing that such has already occurred.
We are dealing with facts not prophetic
fancies.
Of England have always carried their
point. They have been drag and a
dead weight and a hinderer of progress
and reform for centuries. To their bale
full influence is due the horrible and I'M
wholesome state of things in the
crowned republic, as Mr.. Colwell calls
England. They are incurable and are
only injecting every people they come in
contact with Our own newly rich
among them. Happy France got rid of
her iders and profligates by the guilo-
tine route a century ago. But the Eng
lishman looks upon his with reverence
and godly fear as if they were superior
beings. His mind does not yet grasp the
fact that they are only drones and para
Sites as useless and as pernivious as
ticks are upon cows.
| wish / could take as roseate view of
the political condition of the English
people as Mr. Colwell They are my kins-
folks But they have yet to wrest govern
ment for, of, and by the people from
an aristocracy entrenched in power and
skilled In all the tricks of their trade
Verify, for tricks that are dark and
ways that are vain" the ruling class in
England casts all other political bosses
In the shade.
will thank Mr.. Colwell to notify me
when the happy era Of popular self-rule
begins In England that we may rejoice
together. Respectfully,
JOSHUA FRANKLIN
Pyriton, Clay County, August IA. 1916