NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Lords kicked out the Ballot Bill on Thursday. They were too tired, they said, and it was too hot for them to be discussing rubbishy measures of that kind, badly drawn and ill- digested, which nobody wanted except a pack of electors, who would be demoralized by having their own way. That is an honest and a complete summary of their arguments, though expressed in a colloquial way ; and we hope the statesmen who for months have been wearily working at this, Bill, and the members who in seventy divisions have pronounced in its favour, and the constituencies who have urged the majority to firmness, will appreciate and carefully remember them. Ninety-seven gentlemen, selected by being born, have the power on such arguments as these to undo all their work, to set them at defi- ance, and to dictate in their despite how the representatives of the people shall be elected. These gentlemen, more- over, are not assuming or arrogating anything. It is their legal right to stop all reform, great and little, for ever, to override in all matters of legislation the Government, the Commons, and the electors, without assigning any reason other than their own will. That is the constitution of the United Kingdom, the con- stitution which fell from heaven, which has been in suspense for some years, but which Lord Salisbury is now working according to its clear intent and meaning. That Constitution was devised to make the nobles supreme, and he is only insisting, most success- fully, that its object shall continue to be attained.
