New-York tribune., 1883-06-06
PRACTICAL USES OF ROYALTY.

| MT. GlaustOneS reply 10 tue inquiiy icspoce-
ing the Duke of Albany is positive in effect, if
not In form. If the rumor that Royal addresses
had been made and rejected had been un-
| founded, the Premier would not have declined
| to state whether or not the Queens son had
| been refused the Viceroyalty Of the Dominion.
| Indeed he admitted that the Government were
aware that the Crown could command the surv-
ices of the Duke of Albany, and added, not, it
| is to be hoped, In u patronizing tone, that q
willingness to serve did the young Prince the
| highest honor Apparently the Duke was anx-
| ious to go to Ottawa, but the Premier, having
serious ideas respecting the responsibilities OF
government was unwilling to appoint so young
and inexperienced man to so important
pest. The MARQUIS of Lorne, whose relations
with his brothers-in-law are somewhat strained
owing to the rigdity of Court etiquette, may
now console himself with the reflection that he
has held an Office which has been refused to
one of them.
So ends another attempt to render the Royal
Family useful as well as ornamental. The
Hanover stock having been fruitful vine, the
English people have found monarchy san ex-
pensiye luxury, especially as they have not
been disposed to tolerate anything like shah
DlneSS IN the hOydl
a Prince has married his income has been raised
to $125, 900, and $50, 900 or more has been
settled on his bride, and the Princesses have
been favored with special grants on the same
scale of liberality. The head of this family of
nine has made exhausting journeys to the de-
tendencies of the Crown partly for his own
recreation and incidentally for the purpose of
quickening the loyalty of the provinces, and has
rendered excellent service on International oc-
casions in presiding over exhibition ceremonies,
and in ordinary course as the personal represent
alive of the Queen whenever a corner stone Is
to be laid or "A public work formally opened
His apprenticeship az heir apparent has been
laborious one, and he has displayed not only
zeal in the service of the Crown, bnt tact as
the head of English society, especially IN his
relations with the leading statesmen OF the
rival political camps. Indeed II so plebeian
phrase can be applied to Royal occupations, he
may be said TO be fairly earning his salt.
Nevertheless, he gets the salt in generous MEAS
ure, his income from the revenues ot the
Duchy of Cornwall amounting to over $5O0,OOO
a year, in addition to his annuity of 100000
aud the Princess's settlement of $4,000.
The Princes brothers cannot be said to be
as useful members of the Royal household as
he ia himself The Duke of Edinburgh is fair
sailor, who has commanded an ironclad and
risen to the grade of Rear Admiral on tho act
i've list, but il is not probable that the Admir-
atty attaches much Importance TO his profess
sional ability. AS the husband of q Russian
Princess his most useful public function is 60
represent the British Court ut the Imperial
pageants of st. Petersburg and Moscow. The
Duke of Connaught isa soldier, who has not
shirked active work in the field. He took part
in the Egyptian campaign, and In October is to
90 out to India TO command division OF
twelve regiments stationed at Delhi, Agra and
several hill-stations, the headquarters being Mt
MeIrut, the scene of one OF the memorable out
breaks in 1857. 1t cannot be said, however,
that his services are worth what they cost AS
for the Duke of Albany. the remaining Prince,
he has shown some little talent as phrase
maker in the few public addresses which he
has made, and he is known to possess amiable
qualities Of mind. Aside from providing the coll
onies of the Dominion with sembarce of per-
sonal government, he would have had no special
qualifications for the Viceroyalty. He has had
no political training, and no administrative ex-
perience He would have had everything to
learn.
This problem Of turning Royalty to some ac-
count in the practical administration of an En-
pire is not one that can be easily solved. A
French satirist tells grim story about three
strolllng kings, who happened to meet In a
country tavern, gand when they had dned like
Jolly good fellows could not raise enough |
money among them to pay the score. Princes
nowadays have comfortable incomes and are
never forced to pawn the family diamonds. |
They not only pay for their dinners, but have |
thousands to spare to wager on tho Derby. |
But occupation they have none. They are |
hopelessly bored by continuous loafing. They |
are reduced TO such straits that they importune |
Premiers for Offices in order to make themselves |
of some use in the world.