We notice that no day is named by Lord Balfour,
but we sincerely trust that arrangements may be made for the dis- cussion of his Motion in the House of Lords. As our readers know, we hold that probably the easiest way of introducing the Referendum into our Constitution would be for the Lords to take the responsibility of adding a Refer- endum clause and schedule to a particular Bill,—in the present case to the Parliament, or so-called Veto, Bill. We need hardly say, however, that if it should be decided to adopt the plan of a general Act which is foreshadowed in Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Motion, we should feel nothing but satisfaction. Our preference for our own plan is merely due to the belief that a good many Members of the House of Lords and House of Commons might be willing to assent to a single experiment in the Referendum, but would not care to commit themselves to a general Act. But whatever proves to be "the better opinion" on the subject, nothing but good can come from a discussion, both in the House of Lords and in the country, of Lord Balfour's proposal, and we congratulate him upon his independence and public spirit in moving in the matter.
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