The Prime Minister declared that the *chews he had sketched
gave ample opportunities, some would think too ample opportunities, UT disenssien and reflection. The rest of his speech, except for an intimation that it was part of the Government plan to alter the Septennial Act into a Quin- quennial Act, was occupied with a general denunciation of the House of Lords, and reiterated declarations that the House of COMMIS represented the people, and that therefore the will of the people and the will of the majority of the House of Commons were the same thing, and finally with the announcement that the Government would have nothing to de with the Referendum. "I see," said he, "the strongest objections to any such proposal." It was inconsistent with and destructive of Parliamentary government as we understand it, and it would be introducing a new element into the COR- stitution which would only operate when the Liberals were in power. We have dealt elsewhere with the whole subject, and will only say here that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman might have informed himself of the fact that those who, like ow., elves, desire the Referendum advocate a system under which it may be called into operation if necessary by a party in a Minority iu the House of Commons, and that therefore hM assertion that it would only work against the Liberals is quite unwarranted.
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