New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-12
TgE PRINCE IND TIE REGENCY

any nOClCeaDlc COHIpuCsAtAOho Ia H"6'i"A pO
as the immediate consequence OF the hourly
expected death Of tho Prince of Wales
The Prince has never taken any es-
pccial interest in the political life OF
the nation over which he expected to reign.
It is rare that in any country member of tho
royal family can DO found Of full age, with
such expectations and such commanding in
Auence, who is of 80 little weight in tho
councils of tho nation. In most European
countries the Heir Apparent to the throne
bas been continually the center of clabor-
ate combinations and conspiracies, having for
their purpose the reorganization of parties in
the interest of his own friends, in the event of
his accession to the government. But tho
Prince of Wales has so carefully held himself
aloof from any political arrangements that 1t
would BIO difficult for any one to say what his
proclivties were. This was Of course partly
due to his sluggish and pleasure-loving tenn
permanent, and partly to bis frank acceptance
of the most radical view of tho English Con-
stitution which virtually deprives tho crown
of any independent authority. If he
had succeeded to his mother, it is most
probable that he would have interfercd in tho
government even less than she. Custom and
statute have together narrowed the sphere OF
tho exercise of tho royal prerogative until
little more is left than nero ceremony. In
England alone has the royal family gracefully
and promptly acknowledged this. In many
countries of the continent it has been grudg-
>ingly submitted to or openly defed. The Queen
of Spain never hesitatcd to trample under foot
any provision of the Constitution that stood
in her way. Victor Emanuel finds the con-
stitutional restraints extremely irksome at
times. The Emperor of Austria finds himself
so hnmpered and annoyed by the restraints
of the fundamental law, that the party of
reaction in tho palace have never quite
given up their hope Of seeing him cut tho
hated charter to pieces with his sword, and
seek strength and support in q reconciliation
with the Pope. But in England the throne
no more thinks Of protesting against the Con-
stitution than against tho procession of the
equinOxes, or any other unalterable natural
law. The Queen has decided political prcju-
dices, but it must be admitted that she has
been remarkably discreet in restraining them.
The Prince of Wales has found his duty and
his pleasure conspiring to keep him entirely
out of politics.
His death will, therefore, for tho moment, at
least, produce no vacuum in tho political
world. Neither party can gain or lose by it.
If the Conservatives feel that q certain Gle
ment Of stability and order in the succession
is gone, on tho other hand the harsh criticism
Of the royal family INDUCED in by the ad-
vanced Radicals will naturally be checked for
while by this affection in the household of
the Sovereign. There is no sufficient cause
for apprehendng anything like general dis
turbance or tumult. Tho English are not unlike
us, and we saw Lincoln murdered without
a tremor in Wall-st. Tho element of uncer-
tainty and anxiety enters into this problem of
the English monarchy when we consider the
health of the Queen. She is not yet old
enough TO think of retiring from active life.
At fifty-twO, the highest point of mental and
physical capacity is ordinarily not more than
reached. But for the last year or two there
have been constant rumOrs set aflOat in regard
to the Queens failing health, and there have
been also direct and positive assertions of
mental deterioration. While it is proper to
say that these rumOrs have never been
substantiated by any authorized evidence,
they have produced o powerful effect upon
the public mind. More than once in recent
years, the retirement in which the Queen has
chosen to live since the death Of her husband
has been used as pretext for some one to gain
q momcntary notoriety by proposing the
regency of the Prince of Wales. This propO-
sition las always been secuted with unanmity.
1t is ut present moro than ever unlikely that
any suggestion of regency will now be made,
while the Queen retains o sufficient degree
of mental and physical strength to accomplish
the duties incumbent upon her. But in case
of her death or incapacity, crisis will be
forced upon the nation, which will require
the full strength of the Constitution to with
stand. If the monarchy is to be prolonged,
the life of Queen Victoria is matter of the
last importance for the next ten years.
A Regency within the next year or two
might DO fatal to the dynasty. The per-
sons who would be most naturally suggested
for temporary head of the State are the Prin-
cess Dowager Of Wales, the Duke of Cumber-
land, COMMUNICATIVE Chief of the Army. and
tho Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Alfred has
few serious qualities to commend him to pub
lie confidence. The Duke of Cumberland is
not merely destitute of the elements of pop
ularity; large portion Of the army
and Of Parliament arc actively hostile
to him. The grace and amiabiity Of
the Princess of Wales have greatly endeared
her to the people, and In that point of view
her appointment as Regent would be probably
as acceptable as any. But her popularity
could not long endure against the Jealous crit.
icism which would wait on every public act
There was q strong but covert resent.
ment felt against the influence Of
tina lata princa Censort in nuhfic mafters
due almost wholly to the fact that he was q
foreigner. The same objection, however I'm.
just and absurd, would sooner or later arise