And the House of Commons / 439 



as he would have no immediate re-election to look forward 

 to, he could afford to disregard the crack of the whip, and 

 to give effect to the results of his own observation and the 

 dictates of his own common sense in matters affecting the 

 public welfare. 



As in every Parliament the number of members serving 

 in the first of their two Parliaments would be about equal to 

 that of those serving in the second, the people could always 

 depend on getting the undisturbed services of one-half of 

 the House of Commons. 



Perhaps this is not much, but it is something. In any 

 case, it is our duty at this juncture to raise high our voices ; 

 and if a cry is to go over the land it must be for Reform 

 of the House of Commons. We must permit no tinkering 

 at the House of Lords, even by its own members. It is 

 our property. 



1916. Later events showed that I misinterpreted the 

 value which the House of Lords put on its own independence. 



