The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-13

girls are no novelty. The miserable lot who
published 1.-THE Maiden Tribute" would have the
new voters believe that prior to Stead's esca-
pades in London brothels the law was powerless
and even unwilling to punish rape whereas In
no country is that wretched crime more severely
punished than in England According to the
latest statistics the number OF prosecutions OF
all kinds for certain offenses against women and
young girls during the five years l08O-S4. have
been 662-average, 172 per year. For offenses
against girls between twelve and thirteen years
of age the number of prosecutions was 69-aver.
age, about IA per year For indecent assaults OF
all kinds there were 2, 009 charges-average. 402;
for abduction, 48-average. nearly 10; for chill
dren, 33-average, nearly. Says commenta-
tor on these figures: 'They show what has been
done under the law as it stood before the pass
ing of the late act, and those who, for political
purposes, endeavor to represent that the law has
been powerless, or that the officers of the law
have been supine Or invidious, are not persons
whose moral sense is to be envied."
The influence of her Majesty home and in
ternational affairs has of late been much can
vassed. have it on the most reliable authority
that among the multitude of persons who drew
the attention of the Solicitor to the Treasury to
the Armstrong case was the Queen. The Saliva
ton Army people imposed upon her good nature
when they got from her, through a lady in wait
ing, sympathetic expression of opinion in favor
of the new act, and used it if it were declara-
ton of royal opinion in favor of the Pail Mall
Gazette. know that her Majesty was very angry
at this; that she had the whole of the Armstrong
case submitted to her, and was of the first per
sons in the land to suggest that the abduction and
assault of Eliza Armstrong was an outrage which
called for his attention. Monarchs are0 human.
No royal ruler has given us more touching proofs
of this than Queen Victoria 1t is always interest
Ing If not important to know which way her sym
pathies go in public affairs. Those who have the
privilege of her comranionshp at the present
time will tell you that she is anxious to see Lord
Salisbury come back to power. AS constitu-
tonal monarch she must not say so; but as a
human being, and a very loyal woman, there ID
no law, human or divine. which can prevent her
having an opinion, and among her tried attend
ants and friends she doestnot hesitate to ex-
press it. She has no fear Of the people eventu-
ally doing the right thing, however badly inf1u-
enced meanwhile. She believes in men having
special training for craftsmanship she hates
trimmers as they now called, emporium
ists" she distrusts advisers who have any
doubt about main tanning the integrity of the
empire at whatever cost She thinks Chamber
lain's land schemes an unfair attack upon prop
the failure Of our staple trade; and she
thinks Mr.. Gladstone unduly anxious to
satisfy all the various sections of his party.
From time to time l have been able to inform
business and it must be admitted that the
Queen has shown her usual strong. common
sense in her views as the prospects and capacity
of Prince Alexander. The Prince of Wales is
generally regarded as far more polite In his
public actions, vis-a-vls political persons, than
the Queen is. For example, though Chamber
lain is an enemy to the throne, the Prince has
shown him marked attention on more than one
occasion; he is even civil to Dixie, and would no
doubt be very polite to Parnell. AS the Prince,
should he ever come to the throne, means to be
popular king-the king of all classes and
parties-one can imagine him being particularly
gracious to the Irish chief. for Mr.. Parnell is
of the most powerful men il England or Ireland
at this moment, and l mean by this moment"
the eve of polling. JOSEPH HATToN.