Year: 1869




LONDON, June !, 1869.


The HERALD correspondence several days ago pre-.
diced that the inconsistencies and evils OF neredi-
tary legislation must before long form prominent
topic OF discussion in English politics. To-day that
prediction Is verified. AS the HERALD's special
cable dispatches have already Informed the Ameri-
people, the English journals OF this morning are
fled with articles In which the supposed determi-
nation OF the House OF Lords to reject the Irish
Church bill upon Its second reading Is made the
occasion OH one side OF defiant hints as to the un-
certain tenure upon which the peers OF the realm
hold their legislative privileges, and on the
other side OF infammatory appeals to the
landed aristocracy TO stand by those who would
resist the evelling principles OF modern reformers.
The immediate cause OF this sldden outbreak OF a
conflict which, IN the ordinary progress OF events,
could not be much longer delayed has been the
meeting OF conservative peers at the house OF the
Duke OF Marlborough on Saturday night last when
expression was given TO the extreme views OF Earl
Derby, Lord Cairns and others, and when decided
majority OF those present declared themselves
ready 10 endorse the sentiments Of the tory leaders
and to reject by direct vote the bill which they de-
nounce a measure OF spoiiation and lnlamy. AT
this meeting 1t must be understood, no Ge inite line
OF action was actually determined upon-that is to
say, It did not partake OF the character of Ame
rcan party caucus, binding In its results upon those
who took part IN 1t, but was simply an informal
gathering, held for the purpose OF comparing views
and elicitng individual opinion on the important
measure about TO come up for action In the Upper
House OF the English Parliament IL is therefore by
no means certain that the Lords win actually throw
out the Irish Church bill upon the motion for its
second reading, Will defeat IL at ALL either by
direct or indirect means; but the indignation which
the bare rumor OF such course has excited is all
the significant OF the jealousy OF the hereditary
body with which the public mind Is lmpregnated.
The Lords have indeed, done a most indscreet act
even II, as some well informed persons suppose,
they have only thrown out tins intlmation Of their
intention 70 bring themselves into conflict with
the Commons, In order 10 experiment upon popular
feeling and to see whether they dare or dare not
venture upon an extreme position In this early
stage IN the battle OF reform Tor they have gwen
the press the occasion to break ground In
discussion which must, In the end, assume revolu.
nonary proportions and which involves the very ex.
istence Of their own House as an hereditary esisla-
The history OF the Irish Church bill is familiar to
every Intelligent man both sides oil the Atlantic.
The principles invoived IN Its provisions have
submitted TO the people OF the country TO such OF
them as enjoy the privilege OF electors, aud have
been endorsed by them In a majority more decisive
than has oeen secured upon any political question in
A Ministry has oeen formed S % upon IN the 'SI Sasis
through every stage OF It's WORK IN the Commons
with an unprecedented strength. In tue last
Parliament the Lords put On record their personal
protest againsl disestab bishment and dlsendowmept
and In the face OF their the popular verdict
was cast In Iavor OF the measure II they now per.
sst In their opposition II only be Ia defiance OF
the people. They may say that they nave u IN their
power TO defeat the bill, and u Is Tor them alone TO
determine whether they shall or snail not exercise
that power. They may use the paltry excuse that
alike the principle OF disestabishment and olsen
dowmeDt mas been passed upon by the nation. the
details by whca the work Is 10 he accomplished has
not yet been submitted TO the people anu that they
therefore have fair reason Tor inter posing ther
power until this particular measure shall have been
tested AT the polls But the people OF England and
OF Ireland Will fully understand that the opposition
OF the House OF Lords u simply blind and obstinate
resistance 10 the popular w tnat lt IL resistance
tnat can enectually bar the urther progress OF
form. rhey Will understand too, that this iron bar
rer can be removed only by the strong hand that II
Is itself the constitutional obstacle 10 It's own
that they must choose between submission "a this
monster and It's destruction by the sacred right oi
revolution agains. tyranny and oppression.


The HERALD has already advised such steadfas'
friends OF reform AS John Bright that there Il bul
cure for the evil, aud that Is the sweeping avail
OF hereditary legislation. The events Of the pas
few days point this lesson In a marked and unnis
taxable manner. To talk now about correcting the
evil by throwing into the nest OF blgots aud exgiu
sves known the House Of Lords life peer or two
every year Is simply aDsurd. IL must be dug up u,
the roots. IL may be said that the Irish Church oil
Will probably, after all, become q law; but this Il
now wholly lmmaterlal. The fact has been brought
home TO the minds and hearts of the people
mat n body exists In the country which
claiming Its rights IRON the accident o
blrln alone without any title OF merit service
iron bonds rom which there is no legal escape
They now feel, by practical Application, that a
Their boosted liberty aud all thor so-cdled reform
count as nothing when one branch OF the natons
legislature, over which they nave no cOntiOl an
wnVse members ae not responsible either 10 sove