Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-07
ROYALTY AND REPUBL1CAN1sM IN EUROPE.

The well Informed correspondent of the
New York Tribune in London writes that
aside from the natural sympathy always
manifested for a fellowbeing in suffering
the public feeling in England in reference
to the recovery Of the Prince of Wales is
purely political. His restoration to health
Will strengthen the crown, as his death
would certainly weaken it. This state
ment of Mr.. Smalley's only confirms the
opinion entertained by many that the
present controversy in England between
friends of the Crown and the champions
of Republicanism is one of more than
current interest.
There is general movement of the peo-
pie in Europe looking to a more equal dis
tribution of the burdens and powers
of governments. The basis of republic
Canism in America-that the people
are the sovereign power in all
governments, is fast becoming rooted in the
public mind in England and Germany.
This principle has its foundation in popu-
lar education, and wherever that becomes
general the will of the people in due time
must become the supreme law of govern
ment. Royalty in England will be tolera-
ted only so long as the people are satisfied
that it affords them better and cheaper
government than they can secure through
their own will. Queen Victoria cannot
muster bayonets enough to suppress repub-
licanism when the people are once persua-
ded!that they need it. There is little strength
in a government when it loses the re-
spect and sympathy of the governed and
when the English Crown loses this, it be-
comes only government in form and will
be swept away like chaff before the deter
mined purpose of the people. Sir Charles
Delke has demonstrated to the English
people that royalty costs them annually
five millions of dollars. This sum it is GER
tain does not express the real price of the
article. What costs the people of the
United States less than hundred thou
sand dollars per annum costs England five
millions. WHAT'S true Of England is true
of Germany. The masses in both cOun-
tries are thinking seriously of those figures
and though public sentiment is more
advanced Oh the subject in England
than in Germany, it is in both counties
becoming question of deep interest and
great Importance. We do not know that
the change when it takes place will be in
favor of the advanced Democracy we have
in this country, but whatever changes do
follow will be toward a government "Of
the people and for the people" The pro-
gress in this direction is indicated some
times by the extreme fanaticism of
branches of the Observation-Disclosures
claim that all the property in the world
should be equally divided, and that all
identity of person should be destroyed by
the substitution of members changed an
nually for the names of persOns-and
sometimes by such popular demOnstra-
tons of Republicanism as have taken
place in England. But no matter if such
demonstrations have their excuses, no
matter if they are spasmodic, there is a
principle that gives a basis and strength to
them that can not be mistaken and that
is the growing determination of the peO-
pie to have controlling voice in the gov
ernments that so directly influence
their rights of person and property and
the future of their children.