Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-28
The British Royal Family.
The PA Jspective ReappeRrance Of the
Queen in Public Life.


| From the London Times, Dec. q
Few announcements have given more I'M
mixed satisfaction than that the Queen liz
tends TO open parliament in person. Her
majesty cannot, indeed, undertake that her
| health and strength will be equal to the eff
fort. but the resolution once made, we will
| hope that the spirit will rise TO the occasion,
rather than fall short Of it. It is not less
matter of congratulatiOn, and of hardly less
importance, that the Queen intends to re-
sumo her residence at Buckingham palace,
and, as far as her strength allows, her right
full position as the head of British society.
1t will devolve upon her majesty to inform
parliament Of the intended marriage of her
third daughter, the princess Helena, now IN
her Goth year. This country has long been
Indifferent to those splendid alliances that
were formerly the great objects of European
ambition, and were held necessary alike to
the endurance Of dynasty and the power of
n state.
The experience of centuries has now es-
tablished that except under conditions that
cannot possibly apply TO the British empire
and its rulers, grand matrimonial alliances
can do no good whatever, and may do con-
siderable harm. They frequently draw
"
they compel the defence of distant and al
most inaccessible territories they disturb
the natural and proper course of a nations
politics, and have often made the sovereign
himself the worst traitor in his dominions.
Even in the present reign, and in the brief
annals Of the royal household now before us,
the small value of dynastic afinities has re-
ceiyed striking illustration. Only last
year the nation easily forgot in one case, and
found il necessary TO forget in the other, that
the heir of the Prussian crown and a daugh-
ter of the king Of Denmark are part of our
own roval circle. The choice made by the
Princess Helena does not threaten TO com
plicate our foreign policy or to engage our
arms The duke of Augustenburg is the sec
ond son of the parsonage who was some years
ago induced to surrender his claims TO the
much vexed duchies. He does not himself
intend to cultivate his prospects in that dan
gerous direction, and is better content to re-
pose in the stability of British institutions
and the generosity of the British people.
IL is a curious coincidence that three of
our royal alliances, the two mentioned above
and that now intended, should be so closely,
yet so differently associated with the spot
which historians tell us is the cradle of the
English race. 1t would seem as if they who
settle these matters had heard of the old Or
acle, "Antiqudm ercuirite mdtrOm." 1t is
hardly necessary TO add that for the mar
riage settlement of the princess Helena, as
also for the establishment Of prince Alfred,
now of age, her majesty will have to appeal
TO the liberality of her faithful commons.
Such an appeal could not possibly come with
a better grace than from her own lips, and
we cannot doubt that it will be responded to
in free and ungrudging spirit England,
which, even in this century, has seen the
royal stock diminished 20 the frailest thread
and threatened with speedy extinction, at
time when it was more than ever necessary
to order, unity, and peace, cannot but rejoice
to find the queen the centre of 4 numerous
and still widening family circle. 1t cannot
but hail. as an omen ofnational significance,
the blessings that seem TO light upon her
children and children's children. For our
own part, we are not frightened at the pros
pect that seems to open upon us. We do not
anticipate too many princes. They have,
with few exceptions, proved themselves true
Englishmcn, and acquired the love Of their
fellow subjects, as we trust they ever will.