The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-28
THE VOICE OF A PEOPLE.

And now, since Queen Victoria has
taken on this melancholy streak over
the death of John Brown, and fire.
quents his grave and his old home,
her abdication is limited at and her
successors are discussed. OF course
her son, the primogeniture's heir to
the throne, Albert Edward, prince of
Wales, is her direct successor, and
since he has two strong, hearty grown
up boys, it would be reasonable to
presume there may be anything
else but a direct succession. Albert
Victor, the oldest son of the prince,
is nearly twenty years old, and
George, the next son, is sixteen years
old. AS said, speculation as to a
succession on the British throne
arises from this melancholy state
into which the queen has lapsed.
After-a-while, however, the good old
woman may find another trusty body
servant, and, feeling that John Brown
has been replaced, she may become
herself again and reign long in the
land. She belongs to a race noted
for longevity, and she is now
only sixty-four years old. Besides,
the English people are not
anxious for the rule to be changed.
The Prince of Wales has been sowing
his wild oats for good many years,
and it is not known yet whether he
has given up the sport. True it is,
some time ago a dangerous fever
came very near getting away with
his princeship. 1t may be supposed
an apparition of his satanic maJesty's
pleasurable anticipation of his pres
ence below rather frightened the gay
fellow, and since then he has not
been parading his amorous and other
delightful pastimes before his sub
jects. But, after all, it makes but
little difference who is king in Eng
land so long as the people rule. A
wrong step on the part of the govern
ment is at once followed by an ex-
preston from the country, and min
istry and kings go tumbling to the
voice of the people. The voice OF the
people is really the voice of God
in Great Britain. Kings and
ministers and parliaments bow before
the majestic voice, and well they MAY,
for it has been fixed that he who
dares oppose sheds his blood upon the
altar of despotism. The queen may
abdicate or she may die, and the sue
ceSSion will not move hairs breadth
the existing order of things in Eng
land. a few months ago disturbances
might have attended the change, but
the storm is passed and the power of
the government is recognized. The
crowning of an emperor at Moscow,
and the blood of Irishmen who struck
at constituted power in England have
taught the disturbers Of the peace of
Europe that their movements rebound
upon themselves. 1t is constitutional
power that protects England. the
faith eXacted in the execution of
Magma Charta that makes kings safe
and causes ministers to tremble at the
power that has made and which pro-
tects the sacred memento OF trans
mitted liberty. The English govern
ment is demonstrated a liberal and
constitutional monarchy, and it is so
liberal that constituted monarchy dare
not assert its will. Kings and queens
may be crowned and they may abdi-
cate or be consigned to the hereafter,
but the people live for ever. Eng
land may some day be republic; the
enormous expense OF royalty and of
nobility may drive the people to
change their form of government
to one Of more simplicity, but the
change would not work any violent
revolution. The people would will
the change, and kings and mobiles
would obey, for they now tremble
when the popular voice is raised
against their indiscretionS.