The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-03-04
QUEEN

Fol- the fourth time an assault has
been made on the life of Queen Vic
toria. In each case a miserable, worth
less dog Of a fellow was the culprit. But
the queen seems to lead a charmed life
for she has never suffered so much as q
scratch from any Of the assaults.
Why any person should desire to xii
Queen Victoria, is inexplicable, save OF
the single score Of notoriety. We cal
easily comprehend the animus of tn.
nihllists In killing the late car and at.
tempting the life Of the present car.
because Russia has no constitutions
law. 1t is a despotism, and the car !.
the despot. He holds in the hollow Of
his hand the welfare of his eighty mi,
lion of people.
We can find some motive in the sew
eral attempts on the life Of Emperor
William, OF Germany. Although Ger,
many Is a constitutional government
the emperor has extraordinary powers.
he has continually exerted his endeay,
ors to suppress the free expression Of
thought, and subjecting the people to
the viclssitudes of CONSUMPTION. And
he personally espoused the measure To
prevent emigration from Germany. HI
therefore, e~ngandered hatred among
his people, and the attempted assassin.
atoms were the outcome.
There was even a motive in Guiteau
In killing President Garfield. The pres.
ident not only refused Guiteau an ap-
pointment, but had given orders for his
exclusion from the white house, be-
cause he had become an insufferable
bore. Besides, Guiteau had hoped, that
by assassinating Garfield and thus ele-
waiting Arthur, his, the stalwart,
branch Of the republican party would
save him from the legal consequences OF
his guilt, while his revenge would be
complete.
But we find no motive for killing
Victoria. While she is supposed to
reign In England she does no more
"reigning" than a henpecked husband
In the domestic realm. While she is
queen of England and empress of India,
she has no personal power. The titles
are high sounding and hollow. Eng
land has a constitution and this 80
limits the powers of the crown that the
latter has simply dwindled into a some
thing that supplies the place of a presi-
dent, and avoids the necessity for cleo.
tions and the political strife engendered
thereby. Why, the president of the
United States is a despot in power, com
pared to Queen Victoria. She is her
self governed, and by the people. The
prime minister is the real head of the
British government. The people, in
electing the members OF the commons,
govern Queen Victoria, for she is forced
10 request some n to organize a cabi.
net who has a majority Of the commons
at his back, and p~erforce, she is simply
governed by the expressed wishes of the
masses.
The ministry originate legislation,
conduct the government, dictate and
write the queens speech for her, and
in this the hopelessness of the queens
power appears. II a tory government
be In power. the queen, in her speech,
To parliament, ardently endorses tory
methods, and hopes for a continu.
ancs Of toryism; II the liberals be in
power, the same queen extois lib
eralism to the skies, commends
measures entirely hostile to toryism-
and all this change has occurred within
n single year.
Whatever good there is in English
legislation and government the queen
Is deserving Of no praise therefor.