THE REFORM OF THE SECOND CHAMBER [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The country has never been in greater danger than at the present time. The last session but one of this Parliament has arrived, and there has been no mention of House of Lords reform in the King's Speech. A Franchise Act will become law which is a leap in the dark.
If a Socialist Government is returned to power at the im- pending General Election, as is possible and seems probable, having regard to the announced intentions of the Liberal Party, it will find the means for a revolution under constitu- tional forms ready to its hand in an unamended Parliammt Act.. Such 8 House of Commons could, without reference to the electorate : (a) Impose taxes that would destroy the financial credit of the nation ; (b) abolish the Monarchy and the existing Second Chamber ; (c) prolong indefinitely its own existence ; (d) reintroduce D.O.R.A. and ignore the Houses of the Legislature ; (e) set up a system• of Soviets. All or any of the above measures would speedily bring about the destruction of the Empire.
The only thing that is asked for by those who plead for an effective Second Chamber -is that reasonable and proper machinery should be set up for preventing ruinous measures from becoming law before they are submitted to the con- sidered verdict of the electorate. It is therefore suggested that all members of either House who appreciate the situation should sign a petition requiring the Government to postpone all other measures -in favour of a Bill to preserve the very existence of the Realm. The electors should at once bring pressure to bear on their representatives.—I am, Sir, &c.,
JOHN Ross (Last Lord Chancellor of Ireland). Dunmoyle, Co. Tyrone.
Previous page
