On Tuesday, Mr. Courtney, speaking at Liskeard, pointed' out the
recklessness and want of seriousness with which the- agitation against the House of Lords is being conducted. Mr.. Gladstone's last words in the House of Commons were words of attack and contumely against the other branch of the Legislature. " Having intimated that the time had come to extinguish the Upper House, he at once proceeded to create a few fresh Peers, and to appoint as his successor a- member of that House." The first question to be asked was, Were the Lords a very strong body P The answer was, "No."' They did not attempt to impress their will on the legislation of the country or to thwart the will of the people. If the Lords de- layed or negatived legislation, it was because they felt that the• nation had not made up its mind. When the people showed that their minds were made up, the Lords at once yielded.. Mr. Courtney would, however, like to see the Lords vivified and strengthened. A Second Chamber was necessary, and the Unionists were undoubtedly Second Chamber men. He would have as members, not merely life Peers, but a set of new Peers selected by the County Councils and great towns, and elected by proportional representation.
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