DEERAGE AND PEERAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1413, 11 May 1886, Page 3

DEERAGE AND PEERAGE.

Commenting upon what may be termed “the Beerage and the Peerage” Mr Labonchere, in his recent speech in the House of Commons, was very severe, but not a whit too much so, upon the elevation of the great brewer to the Peerage and the consequent conferring upon his family for all time (at least until radical views prevail) the privileges of hereditary legislators. This is what he said—“ But they were told that the House of Lords did not consist entirely of hereditary peers, and that it was recruited from the cream of the nation, (Hear, hear.,) Were they ? Who were the gentlemen who were ordinarily made new peers 7 gome of them were politicians, but they were gentlemen who had been bores and nuisances in the House of Commons—(laughter)—and who were kicked upptairs. (More laughter.) They were generally very rich men, who cither inherited large estates, or who had made s considerable sum of money, and who had bought large estates. Take one as sn instance. He did not take it invidiously against him, because he believed he was a highly respectable gentleman. He alluded to Bir Henry Allsopp. - Well, Sir H. Allsopp brewed beer. (Laughter.) By brewing beer he acquired a fortune. He did not think that any gentleman would say that Sir H. Allsopp in any sort of way distinguished himself politically. He had no doubt he did good service to his party, and fought several elections, and very likely subscribed to the funds of the Carlton Club. But that was not acting as a prominent politician. He was made a baronet. He had not the objection to Bir H. Allsopp or anybody else being made a baronet. It peemed to him to be almost cruelty to animals to refuse anybody a baronetcy who asked for it. ( Loud laughter.) He Should as soon think of refusing a thistle to a hungry and needy donkey. (Renewed laughter.) But Bir 11. Allsopp was not satisfied with a baronetcy, and he was considered worthy of the dignity of a peerage. Here he thought they had a right to complain, because tbat.j was not only a title, but it conveyed certain legislative rights both to him and his successors. (Hear, hear.) They were often told that the House of Lords in some special way represented property and commerce. What was the first step of Bir H. Allsopp when made a peer ? He wrote to the “ Times ” to complain that he was called a brewer, and to assure the world that he had ceased brewing. (Laughter.) Bhortly afterwards he saw an account of a bucolic festival down in the country. The tenants of Sir H. Allsopp met and congratulated him upon being made a peer, and at the same time he saw a suggestion that Sir H. Allsopp was descended from .one of the Plantagenct kings, (Laughter.) Sir H. Allsopp had a son who was a member of the House of Commons. When that hon. gentleman went up to the other House, in the course of nature, what would be his course? Would he prove a useful member in that House and speak about | commerce 7 W^ould ho allude to the paternal butt 7 (Much laughter.) They would have the descendant of the Plantagenct kings, and the respectable vendor of intoxicating liquors—(laughter) — to whom he owed his title, would he entirely forgotten. He did ask upon what principle in the world were then to assent to Sir H. Allsopp’s son, grandson and great-grandson hereditarily ruling over them.” (Radical cheers). Mr Labonchere may well ask that question, and we venture to say that the almost uuivcrsal answer will be that hereditary peerages, of this sort at any rate, are not defensible on any principle whatever.