Excerpt from The Radical Programme

Belonging also to the order of constitutional questions, there is the question of shorter parliaments. The existing Parliament affords a conspicuous example of the disadvantage of the septennial period. The general election may be expected to show how far Parliament has dragged behind public opinion during the past three or four years; yet it is in the power of the Government to block the way of all progress until July, 1893. Quin quennial, triennial, and annual Parliaments have been suggested by various schools of politicians during the past century. The arguments for a period shorter than seven years are invincible; the points of dispute lie as between one, three, and five years periods. The general argument in favour of annual Parliaments is the sensitive ness of so short-lived a Parliament, both collectively and as regards its members, to public opinion. It is noteworthy, however, that most of the arguments Of the leading advocates of annual Parliaments - first, the Benthamites, and subsequently the Chartists, were based upon the then {prevalent venality of members of Parliament. No doubt offices and titles are still dispensed to reward services in support of the Government; but no doubt also political life is much purer than it was seventy years ago; and there is less necessity for devising safeguards against a corruption which no longer exists. The arguments against annual Parliaments are the great disturbance to industry which an annual general election would cause if the people were really stirred; and the political indifference which would result from annual Parliaments if the people were not stirred. As a practical issue the question really lies between triennialand quinquennial Parliaments. A quinquennial Parliament, which should last its full term, would be scarcely less disadvantageous than a septennial Parliament which dissolved a year before its necessary dissolution. The triennial Parliament offers, on the whole, the fewest disadvantages; and, there is little doubt, would result in stimulation of interest in politics, and in more rapid political progress than we now experience.

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