TOPICS OF THE DAY THE LORDS TRIUMPHANT.
jIwo or three years ago, the necessity of Peerage Reform was an ordinary subject of discussion at public meetings, and in the Literal newspapers, Whig as well as Radical. The Ministerial ournals, we believe without exception, advocated—not systema- tiaasm, heefrom time to time, as the pinch of the Ministerial qtdred—some material alteration in the constitution of
orecion re
the house of Peers, so as to bring it into conformity with the Taajority in the Commons. Whig Ministers warned the Lords to II put their bowie in order ;" the Whig. Attorney-General toll his constituents, the &mule Scots of Auld Reekie, that the House of Peers must submit to reform. A change has come over us. Peerage Reform is a thing about etich few think and fewer talk : it is as much in abeyance as the Reform of the Representation was when the Whigs supported CANNING in 1527, or WELLINGTON in 1830 before the Three Davs of Paris. There was ground for Lord WHARNCLIFFE'S toast at the Leeds Tory banquet, that the cry of " Down with the House of Lords" could no longer be raised with effsTt. Lord "was happy to say that that cry had now passed by; and he believed in his conscience that the House of Lords now stood in a higher position than ever." The taunt is fair against all who, for mere party purposes, joined in the clamour for Peerage Reform ; and it now appears that a very large proportion of those who set up the cry were in- sincere. The policy of bringing forward good measures in order that the Peers might incur odium by their rejection, has been dis- covered to be simply a cheat—a fraudulent pretence for maintain- ing M office Ministers who cared little for measures, but esti- trawl highly the pleasures and profits of place. It scon became evident that the Peers lost no ground in the contest with the Commits. How could they, when the result of every conflict was the submission of the Commons, rendered inure degrading by previous bluster end threats ?—when the measures sent up from the Commons were of such a character that no popular odium followed their rejection? " Wait a little,- said the Ministerial jugglers to their dupes, " by and by the Peers will become in- tolsmb'y odious : the pear is ripening daily—it will be mellow soot ." To the dishonest politicians who uttered, and the simple peisons who put faith in these promises and prophecies, Lord WHARKLIFFE and the Tory Peers may fairly say—" What has Imam of your Peerage Reform ? where is your big ripe pear ? Have frs succumbed ? On the contrary, we stand in a higher position than ever '—live to sneer at your abortive menaces, and to proclaim the House of Peers the popular assembly." And if popularity be in proportion to the decorous exhibitim of senatorial qualities, the House of Peers has bad the advantage over the MELBOURNE House of Commons. The difference in this respect has struck all who have attended the debates in the two Houses during the present session. Even popular principles have been more ably and with more apparent zeal avowed and defended ia the Upper than in the Lower Chamber. So far, it is unques- tionable that the Peers have a right to " crow," while the Com- mons must " sing small." But it is a mistake of Lord WHARN- CLIFFE to suppose that an impregnable position has been secured for his order.
' The fault," said his Lordship, "pm incipally found with them was, that they hod reseed the march of Democracy : and in answer he said, that it was their duty so to do, because it had been incontrovertibly proved that there should be &legislative body that was not dependent upon what was called the voice of the People, but that it should be so far independent of that popular voice as to be stabled to check it whenever courses were pursued calculated to injure the con- nitution. They had exercised this power, and to that course they had and lookid adhere."
The Peers gained an easy victory against men not in earnest, who fouud their own advantage in pretending hostility for a time. The "Democracy" has not been vanquished, fin it has never yet been brought into the field. Betrayed by treacherous leaders, the people wee drawn aside, and taught to waste their powers un- profitably, till they became weak and the foe acquired strength and courage. There has been no rough collision as yet between the Order and the Democracy ; and the prospect of a serious straggle is net near. As long as the House of Commons retains its present character of' real inferiority, in spirit, talent, and respectability of conduct, the Peers may have their full swine There will be no hope or danger of Peerage Reform, till the Government of the country take up the question, with a deter- mination to carry it; and the Government will never move in that direction till propelled by a House of Commons, itself' moved by pressure from without. But let not the existing Peers flatter themselves, that even in their time Peerage Reform is impossible. To a political calm as dead as the present, the Reform agitation and vehement excite- ment succeeded with stunning rapidity. There was a season When people thought of nothing but material enjoyments—when pint stock companies and speculating projects were all the rage, Just as they are now ; with this difference, that there was no lurking political disappointment—no resentment for treachery— ho of the Liberal aristocracy, who were gratefully ac- cepted as leaders of the movement. To that period of quiescence a violent storm succeeded. The Peers weathered it; but where is the bold man who will foretell that their ship will ride through
the next gale?
When the Oligarchy and the Democracy do meet in earnest— pith no buttons on the swords, no muffles on the flats—one of two
events must happen: either the House of Peers will be set aside, as in days of yore; or it will sink into insignificance, prepared to
register the edicts of the popular assembly. There is not, it will ' be said, any probability of such a rebellion of the people against their masters. N.I immediate prospect of it, certainly. The • tendency is the other way. But in-the mean while, it behoves • shrehd men like\Lord W HARNC LUTE, to consider the circuirs- stances of the last struggle. Let lead WHARNCLIFFE reflect on the alarm it caused himself especially, and the party of " Wa- verer,'" whom he headed, though the " Democracy " were half afraid, restrained by their leaders, and influenced by an old pres- tige, which has not gained strength since the Reknit Act. He should bear in mind, that the Peers have at present a foil in the Commons—that they appear to advantage ouly in contrast with an offensive object, not. brilliant from their own light. Should it conic to pass hour any cause—sudden, or the natural product of ex•endeil information and continued experience—that a House of Cot:MAMA shall be elected really representing the Democracy, tleen there will be little room for the Lord to boast that he has pre ailed against the People.
It would be desirable if the Peers could take advantage of the temporary lull, to found a claim on popular forbearance. Let them turn their minds to gnoduess and their bands to well-doing. It was no speculative dislike to the Hereditinv Chamber, it was nut the prevalence of Republican theories in the land, that generated the demand for Peerage Reform ; but the practical ob- struction to (seemingly) Liberal government and useful measures, attributed to the Peers. Should this charge beemne untenable hum a change in the tactics and conduct of the Upper ilouee- should the Peers exhibit alacrity in forwarding, originating. as well as perfecting and passing, really valuable measures—they will assuredly for a long period remain undisturbed by time demand for Peerage Reform. But "can the „Ethiopian change his colour?"
Previous page
