was diverted by wars, but the main trend taken by the course of events was unalterable.  The aristocracy, finding that it was losing ground, made attempts to reenforce itself with commercial and American wealth, thereby sacrificing the last traces of its old distinction.  Money might give power of a sort—­a dangerous power in its way—­but not-power to recover the loss of political domination.  The South African War and the attempt to obliterate the resentment it caused in the country by instituting a campaign for the revival of Protection brought about the downfall of the Tory party.  The electoral debacle of 1906 was the consequence and served as a signal of alarm in the easy-going Conservative world.  Till then many who were accustomed to hold the reins of government in their hands, as if by right, had not fully realized that the control was slipping from them.  The cry went up that socialism and revolution were imminent. The Times quoted The Clarion.  Old fogies shook their heads and declared the country would be ruined and that a catastrophe was at hand.  But it was soon found, on the contrary, that the government of the country was in the hands of men of great ability, enlightenment, and imagination; trade prospered, social needs were more closely attended to, and, most important of all, peace was maintained.  The House of Commons had opened its doors to men of moderate means, and the Labor party, consisting of working men, miners, and those with first-hand knowledge of industrial conditions, came into existence as an organized political force.

The last six years have shown the desperate attempts of the ancient order to strain every nerve against the inevitable, and to thwart and destroy the projects and ambitions of those who represented the new thought and the new life of the nation.  Though apparently successful at first, the rash action of the Chamber which still represented the interest, privileges, and prejudices of the wealthier class and of vested interests, only helped in the long run to hasten the day when they were to be deprived of their most formidable weapon.  They still retain considerable power:  their interests are guarded by one of the political parties, and socially they hold undisputed sway.  In an amazing defense of the past action of the House of Lords, Lord Lansdowne in 1906 said:  “It is constantly assumed that the House of Lords has always shown itself obstructive, reluctant, an opponent to all useful measures for the amelioration of the condition of the people of this island.  Nothing is further from the truth.  You will find that in the past with which we are concerned the House of Lords has shown itself not only tolerant of such measures but anxious to promote them and to make them effectual to the best of its ability. And that, I believe, has been, and I am glad to think it, from time immemorial, the attitude of what I suppose I may call the aristocracy toward the people of this country” The last