The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-31

A 3seltsh DsRseSas % Eagi1sh Royalty.
We should overlook some Of the most
striking signs Of the times in Ensland-signl
that forcibly recall the state OF things In Francs
during the Evolutionary discussions which
forsran he convocatlon Of the States General
in 17S9-if We failed 10 notice the appearance Of
. radically democratic and socialistlc litera-
tuTs. In . catalogue Of recent publications We
ind. besides mention Of tho Socialist maya
zine. To-day. and tho Socialist weekly. Justice.
announcements OF books with such suggestive
titles as the " Principles Of Socialism by Hynd-
man and Norris" an English translation OF
Lsssalls's workinRman'a Programme" and
biography Of Jean Paul Marat from the ap.
prsciative point Of View Of an English Socialist.
From tho Same revolutionary press has issued
little volume. which now lies before u.s. en-
titlsd The Fe,c Book Of Kings, by J. MORRISON
DAVIDSON tof the Middle Tempe) barristcr
at law London. Tho Modern Prese) This
Ii . book that would have been keenly
relished by those Commonwealth men
who applauded tho beheading Of Charles
Stuart and who Viewed the usurper Cromwell
with such detestation that they did not scruplo
to proclaim killing no murder. Tho author
OF this book Ii not one OF those Englishmen
who are said to have sneaking fondness for
royalty and to dearly love lord: he regards
such adjuncts and excrescences OF the English
body polltio with the piercing and undazzled
eye Of Ludlow. Titus. and Sir Harry vane. and
he insists that his countrymen should cease to
credit the obsolete and useless institutions OF
monarchy and an hereditary aristocracy. with
virtues they never had. and services they never
rendered. The object OF his sharp indictment.
In the course Of which he dissects the charac-
ter and actions OF every monarch from the
epoch OF the Norman conquest. Is to show the
English people exactly what they owe their
rulers. and how far the principle OF kingship
y justified by history snd proved worthy Of
surviving in the form OF legal fiction long after
tts efficiency for good or evil has departed.
Il may be that his arraignmont will seem over
charged to those whose sympathy with the
progress Of democratic ideas In Great Britain
u pretended or lukewarm. but we have not ro-
marked single statement for which conclu-
sivs or strong evidence has not been given BY
conservative historians. The novel and I'M
pressive feature Of the book Is the marshalling
Of all these facts together. with tho purpose of
killing 1t q stroke the sentiment OF loyalty. II
In truth any such feeling now exists anywhere
In England That Q book like this 10 not quite
nsedieys may bs inferred from the extravassnt
professions Of public grief at tho death OF tho
late Prince Leopold. for insineere as those
demonstrations often wore. they at least I'm
piled conviction that a blind loyalty existed
somewhere and DOM PEELED lip-ser,ice.
We can best illustrate the spirit which per-
Sades this democratic revision Of English his
tory. by noting what the author has to say OF
those most respected and popular sovereigns
who are supposed to have redeemed the short
somings OF the rest. 1t will b. remembered that
a interdict was placed on the performance Of
victo Hugos Le Roi s'Amuse" on the ground
Mt fha Inc ~ In f., >,,lJ
not Afford to DO disparased in the person OF ono
ofthe three kings who alone shed lustre on it. In
like manner 1t might be thought that he princ-
pie Of kingship would be jeopnrded in England
lfless good than evil can be truthfully ascribod
to Henry H.. the so-called conuueror Of Ire
land: TO Richard Lion Heart" to Edward l.,
the greatest Of the Plantagenets;" to Edward
III the victor OF Cressy; to Henry ". whose
success at Agincourt Shakespeare has made
Immortal; to Henry VIII. tho professed ro-
former OF tho English Church; to Eliza
both, the pretended Virgin Ousen:" to
Charles l.. the Martyr" to Macaulay's
hero. William ILL.,: and lastly. to that House OF
Brunswick respect for whom was once insep-
srable from good citizenship but about whose
merits We hear less since Thacksray plucked
oD courage to paint the four Georges as they
vssa. As to Henry H.. Mr.. Davidson sums up
the fpest conclusions Of historical inquiry
whom he says that Mntida's son misgoverned
England with al his might. His one aim In
dis was to rendcr tho monarchy absolute. and
except from tho Church he encountered but
uttls opposition. II he did not OK.
Srsssly order the brutal murder Of Thomas
4 Beckett. his words were. to say tho least
highly ambiguous. Irshmsn in par
icular have reason to execrate the memory OF
this king. To him they owe the beginning OF
their long protracted national agony" OF his
son. Richard l.. Wa read: This man was
called Lion Heart by reason Of his habits
Of violence and brawling. He was a
nero atrocious bloodsheddcr. and nothing else.
Hs had plenty OF that animal courage which Is
still to be had in such abundance at the rate Of
eighteen pence day. He was neither states
man nor General. In both these respects he
was greatly inferior to tho intldel Saladin
- Sir Walter Scott and others who have
converted this merciless and purposeless
scourge OF humanity into a hero have truly
much to account for. He himself formed q
much more reasonable judgment. When speak
Ing comprohensively OF his house he said: We
came OF the devil and we shall 60 to the DEVIL"
OF Edward l.. who has been styled the English
Justinlan. Mr.. Davidson writes He was in
deed lawyer In the sense that when he wished
to rob his neighbors In Scotland. Wales. or
France OF what belonged to them. he gen.
orally prefaced his attacks by legal bubbles
OF which an Old Bailey practitioner might be
ashamed. He tried his utmost to set aside the
provisions OF the Great Charter. and when no
found the Barons too strong for him he shed
somO crocodile tears in Westminster Hall. and
abandoned tho attempt" Mr.. Davidson. Of
course. would not denv that Edward I. Is less
contemplate figure than his father or his son.
but ON this point the author remarks mt In.