Mr. Acland, the Vice-President of the Council of Educa- tion,
speaking on Wednesday at Parkgate, near Rotherham, cad the grievances of the Gladstonians in being unable, even when they command a majority in the Commons, to carry any measure except a Budget through both Houses of the Legislature, very fairly and with moderation. The Liberal Unionists do not deny,—they heartily admit,—that the House of Lords, giving, as it does, an immense and permanent majority to the Tory party, places the opposite party at a great disadvantage, since a Conservative House of Commons can always carry its measures through the House of Lords, while a Radical House of Commons seldom 3an, unless the measure happens to be one of pure finance. That is not fair ; and we do not defend it. But on the other hand, the very use of a Second Chamber is to secure delay and reconsideration for -all fundamental constitutional changes, and unless the bias of the Second Chamber is decidedly against gratuitous or exces- sive constitutional change, it would be of no use at all. The Senate in the United States is, in fact, a far stronger barrier ,against reckless constitutional changes, than the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. What we want is an Upper !House, not very unevenly divided, but composed of sober and cautions politicians, naturally averse to change, except where a strong case for it can be made out, and very jealous of the hind of changes of which no man can see the end. If Lord Rosebery and his Ministry would keep this object in view, and make it the first function of the Senate to refer all great 'changes to the people, unless the people had already considered them and given a decisive judgment upon them,—they would snot find the Liberal Unionists at all likely to block the way.
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