The Belgians will, it is believed, try the experiment of
the Royal Referendum. The opposition to the proposal has been fierce, not only from the Liberals, headed by M. Frere-Orban, a statesman of acknowledged moderation, but from some followers of the clerical Government, and all the extreme Radicals. The body of electors are, however, favourable to the new scheme, and the Cabinet has proposed a compromise which will, it is understood, be accepted. The right of the King to order a Referendum is not to be inserted in the Con- stitution, but to be conceded by an Act, thus leaving it open to Parliament to abandon the system if it is found to be too mischievous. Moreover, the occasions on which the right may be exercised are to be strictly defined in a schedule which will, of course, previously be stoutly debated. It is not for Englishmen, who have no written Constitution, to object to the plan of making innovations by Act of Parliament ; but the proposal to define the occasions for using the Referendum strikes us as unwise. Nobody ever yet foresaw the occa- sions on which a reserved power could be wisely employed. The check on the King's action, the power of Parliament to repeal the Act, is the best of guarantees against reckless or injurious appeals to the new reserved power.
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