The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-09


papers in England have ceased to laugh |
at it, and treat it as one of the signs of
the times which cannot be too gravely
considered. The Pal Mall Gazette admits
that wholesome, national patriotic aspira-
tions seem to have disappeared, and that is
undoubtedly step toward Red Republican
ism" The Spectator says:-"A grave, sim-
pie, and slightly stern Commonwealth is our
ideal for England" The Economist, one of
the ablest journals in existence, remsrks:-
"Our objection to Mr. Auberon Herbert's
speech at Nottingham, in favor OF applying
the elective principle to the head of the
State, is not its audacity, but its premature
ness" All this indicates tone of discussion
very different from that which, ouly few
years ago, would have been thought appro-
pirate to such a subject. But even now it
may be doubted whether the full significance
of the present discomfort in England is real
lied by her public writer's and statesmen.
1t would require a volume instead of a
column for the discussion of the causes which
have given rise to the dissatisfaction now
shown by the working classes in England. In
its latest manifestation it is clearly directed
chiefly towards the throne, and although it is
not the fashion in England to recognize even
the existence of disloyalty, there can be no
doubt about that sentiment being very ac-
lively at work. This ought not to sur
prise any one. For some years past the
Teignipg sovereign has been going the
shortest way to estrange from the crown
the affections of the people. 1t is common
to say that she is ''good woman" a ''pious
mother, and so forth, and it may all bo said
with a great deal of truth But in these
days something more is srequired of monarch
besides the domestic virtues and regular
attendance at church. Queen Victoria has
rendered the monarchy in England mere
abstraction, and it is hard for people to love
and reverence distractions. She has hidden
herself from her people in cold austerity, and,
except by sending an occasional check for
three guineas to some poor woman who has
suddenly found herself blessed with three
children, she has given very little sign of her
sympathy with their joys or troubles. The
English people wonld forgive anything
in their sovereign sooner than this studied
seclusion. Some of the Queens predeces-
sors have been very bad monarchs, but
they we're popular because of their win
ming manners, their gay demsanor, the ease
and pleasure with which they went about
among their subjects. These were the quail
ties which caused the people to pardon the
ipnumerable faults of Charles II, and rem
dered him so popular that at his death, as
Lord Macaulay says, there was not a house.
maid in the country that did not put on
piece of Grape from respect to his memory
George ~ was generally favorite for the
better ruler than either Charles II
or George ", but in q troubled and dan
gerous epoch, when, as her husband said ''re-
preventative government is on its trial, she
has forgotten her duties to the people, lost
her hold upon them, and placed the future of
her house in the most serious peril. James III
seemed much more certain of perpetuating
| the reign of the Stuarts, when he came to the
throne, than the Prince of Wales does of
of Hpnnvar n N
England.
1t is specially unfortunate for the English
| people-to whom O revolution could not fail
to bring many calamities-that at such a
time as this they can hope nothing from any
member of the reigning family. The death
of the Queen, instead of holding out the
prospect of a change for the better, will
greatly strengthen the party which now
clamors for a republic The heir to the
crown seems totally unable to understand
the questions of the day, the temper of the
| people, or the times in which he lives.
People who know him best shake their heads
in dependency when his name is mentioned.
The loyalty of the people may put him on
| the throne, but he will never have sense or
prudence enough to keep himself there.
While his father lived there was some hope
for him; but since the Prince Consorts death
he has led life of frivolity and indulgence.
He divides his time between the stable, the
billiard table, and the bar-room. Such man
as this is scarcely fitted to conduct great
nation through period of agitation and
trouble. 1t may, of course, be said that Eng
land would lose very little by the downfall of
the reigniDg house-and in one sense that is
quite tire. Parliamentary government,
brought to high perfection, and an admirably
balanced Constitution, enriched by the expe-
rience of centuries, have done much for Eng
land; but the House of Hano-
yer has added little to its honor. It's
princes have not, indeed, like the two last
Kings of the Stuart race, sold themselves
for money to rival powers, and made England
a vassal of France; bat the line has furnished
examples of almost every form of vice, mean
ness, and folly. 1t lost England its best
colonies, and lost them in the most besotted
and disastrous manner-sowing seeds of dis
| cord between people who might always have
respected each other, even though they lived
under different forms of government. No
member of that House has ever been able to
atone for the objectionable and irreparable
stupidity and blindness of George Ill.
But to change the succession to the crown
is no light matter. 1t could not be accom-
plished without a revolution, and it would be
long before a settled government could again
be established. The men who are now ex-
hibiting red flags at public meetings can
scarcely be deemed safe persons to intrust
with the direction of national affairs. The
peace ahG order which have for SO many
years been enjoyed in England must be
ascribed in a great measure to the wisdom
and fiImness of ministers belonging to a type
which now seems to be extinct MIR. Glad
stone is a good man for second place, but
III his hands England is falling to pieces. He
bas neither the tact Co anticipate the just re-