" WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH IT ? "
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " BrECTATOR."1 SIR,—It is clear by this time that the Unionist Government will come into power with a sufficient majority at their back. Is it too much to hope that they will do something to forward two grave political questions, which will have to be settled before long, one way or another,—the questions of Ireland and of the House of Lords ? Every thinking man will agree, at any rate, on two points,—that in the present set of opinion things cannot remain for ever as they are ; and that, if great changes have to be made, they are usually better made by friends than by foes. That either question can be finally settled by this Parliament or the next is, perhaps, too much to hope ; but only a strong Government can deal with them effectually, and all Liberal Unionists and many Conservatives would rejoice to see them faced. Of course they are beset with difficulties,—but difficulties are made to be overcome ; and these are difficulties such as grow with every year's delay, and are not lessened by ignoring them. No Liberal, if he be a Unionist, can be satisfied until Ireland is placed in the same political position in all respects as England, subject to one and the same Imperial Parliament. No Liberal, if he be a " Second Chamber" man, can fail to hope that the House of Lords may, by some means not beyond the wit of man to devise, be brought more into touch with the people, and thus become a really useful " Chamber of Revision " for both parties equally.
It is only by keeping ends like these steadily in view, and by thinking out the best means of accomplishing such ends, that we can hope to escape by-and-by a renewed agitation for Home-rule and for ending the House of Lords by abolishing its power of veto. In two years or three years or five years the pendulum will surely swing back again ; and if Unionists have failed to use the golden opportunity now presented to them, they will have put into Radical hands a sharp sword to be wielded against themselves. " You have had the power," it will be said, and you have not used it. You have let things drift. Now we have the power, and we mean to use it."—I am, Sir, &c., Bedehurst, Godalming, July 21st. A. M. CIIBTE18.
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