The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-18

pledge himself to embody In written instru-
mont Above all he viewed with profound mis-
giving tho tendency Of the British parliament
tary system to nullify the functions OF tho SOW
crcign, and he solcmnly warns Prince Albert
not to countcnancc the popular notion that the
King In the eye of the law is nothing but man.
DARN figure which has to nod its head in as
sent or shake its head in denial. as his Minister
pleases.' He goes on to impress upon his pupil
as n point Of supreme importance. that this
fiction" should be tolerated only provision
ally. and that no opportunity should be let
slip of indicating the Legitimate authority of
the crown"
To us looking back from the plane to which
the unfolding of events has lifted the British
theory Of government. tho idcas which the
Prince COnsOrt brought 10 England. however
mistaken, seem impotent to harm. If at the
present hour an English sovereign should un-
dcrtakc to thwurt or dictate legislation or other
wise interposc his personal voliton in the
guidance of affairs, he would probably endan-
ger what Is left Of the crown prcrogative. but
the popular irritation would not have trace OF
terror in it, But in 1910 the case WIS differ-
emit Tho process of transition WIS still in
choatc between tripartitc Legislature and
tho substantial omnpotcnce OF single
branch. between the obligation resting
ment and the simple necessity OF keeping n
party majority in the House OF Commons. Evil
dence was not wanting in the late reiens that
another motor. besides the wish Of the people.
wis still applicable to the civic machinery. 1t
WIS not forgotten that in the early years Of
George Ill n considerable faction Of the lower
House had frankly assumed and by their action
justified the title OF the Kings Friends" or
that later n wise and wcll-tmcd measure for
the relief of Roman Catholic disabilities had
boon defeated by the same half-crazy monarch.
And more recently William. the Sailor
King, had put forth prcpos'erous notions
of his prcrogativc had dismissed Lord Mol
bourncs Ministry in n fit Of piquc. and been
guilty OF other outbreaks which might have
been disastrous. Now. II SO much power Of OBJ
strdcton and mischief had been preserved 10
the royal authority in tho person Of n mailman.
and Of n laundering dotard. how far might it be
stretched by a shrcwd and reso,utc Prince
whose es Unable qualities should disarm jeal-
ousy and bngct conild nrc. and whose ends
should be adroitly yelled and dis,recty COM
passed. Considering the popularity OF the
young Queen. and the character Of her hus-
band. the danger was indeed not slight that the
progressive reduction OF the crown TO II legal
fiction might be seriously retarded. and that the
Prince Consort might become in substance u
permanent. cspou-ible Primo Minister.
This was the precss purpose which Stockmar
had instillcd. ami % which the young Prince
addr 'ssed himself with cirrumspcct pcrtinacl-
ty. lie had many robuils TO bear and some
prejudice TO lispel before he could begin 10 lay
the basis Of his projected credit This part Of
his experience Is detailed In his private letters
20 Stockmar. and no doubt he was largely in
delted t. tho counsrls IT his mentor for the pa
thence and c1uanimi;y with which he learned 10
surmount obstacles. "A very considerable
portion " the nation" he writes. had never
given itsrlf the trouble IN consider what really
is the situation Of tho Queens husband" He
adds that when he lrst came over he was
confronted 10y this want Of knowledge
and unwllingncss TO give thought 10 the
status Of this luckl,ss parsonage e Peel" he
continues. "cut Town my income. Wellington re-
fused me my rank the Royal family cried out
against the foreign interoper." He declares
that tho Wings in ol,e were only inclined to
concede to him Just a. mu,h space rs h. could
stand on. because " lac Constitution il silent as
to the consort Of tie Queen; even blackstone
ignores him. and yet there hr was and not TO
be done without" There he was assurcdly,
and ere long a good many people in and out Of
the Cabinet began 10 marvel how they ever had
done without him. The d.strust and unfriend-
illness which he found lurking in the public
IA !. g. l. ia.
80 ",'' VIE "'iu
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tons in which the husband " "A Queen rognant
stands To tine soyer.i.,n-anl he docs NOT omit
thecip.tal one. to yindicate which was the aim
II his public life. The Office 81 "A Prince Con-
sort. he says, IL 10 III up every gan which the
Queen. rs "a woman, would naturally leave in
the exercise Of her regal functions. "continu-
ally and anxinusy 70 watch every part OF tho
public business. in order t. he able to advise
and assist her in any Of the multfarious and
difficult questions brought before her. some-
time. tI,t..ptfi..t.af a,u,.tf,.a ,..fitf...t