San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-09
EVEN MoNARcHs LEARN.

learned anything by experience, Victorit
does not have to walt until the oOnClu'
siOns Of her people are Numbered at hel
through the muZZle Of cannon before
she understands the drift of those chan
ges that mark eras In the history OF ma
tiOns. The ear Of the Empress Of India
has grown quick to hear the voice of heI
people, as is evidenced by the following
extracts from her speeches delivered
the one on opening parliament last Jan
uary, the other in dissolving parliament
last month. In last January the Queen
said:
IL have seen with deep sorrow the re-
newal, since last addressed you, of the
attempt TO excite the people of Ireland
to hostility against the legislative union
between that country and Great Britain.
! am resOlutely opposed to any disturb
anceE Of that fundamental law, and in
resisting 1t am convinced that | shall
be heartily supported by my parliament
and my people"
Not six months later that same Queen
said to that same parliament, concern
ing that same question of legislative
union
81 have determined to release you
from your high duties before the full ac-
COmplishment OF the regular work OF the
session, in order to ascertain the sense OF
my people on the important proposal to
establish legislative body in Ireland
for the management OF Irish as distin-
| guished from imperial affairs. With this
object it is my intention to Immediately
! dissolve parliament"
This change in the tone of her graci-
Gus majesty is no doubt due in consider
| able measure TO the representations OF
her prime minister, upon whom the bur
dpns Of government have fallen so
heavily OF late Had Gladstone never
introduced his home rule scheme for
Ireland, Queen Victoria never would
have spoken about asCertaining the
''scnse Of her people" on that question.
In this one sentence lies the whole pol
icy OF the English crown of to-day as
COntrasted with that of James |. and
Queen Bess and George III. This de-
sire to ascertain the sense OF her sub
jeCts" on any given matter OF govern
mental policy is such a new departure,
in speech from the throne, that is not
easy to bridge the distance that it mea-
sures between the solid peoples ground
OF to-day and the far of shores of that
"divine right" upon which stood the
former sOvereigns of Great Britain.
Queen Victoria has crossed the Rubicon,
and in accepting the "sense Of her peo-
pie" as the sufficient ground Of royal
action has broken all the bridges behind
her and committed herself and govern
ment to a constitutional expression of
the peoples will.
THE farmers Of Texas are coming to
the front as active participants in state
and county politics. A man is no worse
for being a granger, nor Is he any the
better; but, as the great majority of
legislative assemblies is composed of
lawyers and spectators, it would be
wise movement to balance the machine
with a few score intelligent grangers.
Let the hand that holds the pillow try
turning n furrOw in the field of state
politics.
The fellows who are blatantly an
nOuncing themselves for congress on an
unlimited free trade. free coinage, free
spOils system, are out of line With the
growing sentiment of Texas. The state
as whole makes progress despite the
arrested development of her mossback
politicians.
JUDGE RECTOR shows his good sense
and appreciation OF the situation in re-
fusing to accept the nomination of the
republican party for governor this fall.
As before pointed out by the LIGHT,
the republicans can put their votes
where they will do more good this fall
than by putting them into ballot box
in support Of ticket that cannot be
elected. 1t is wiser in view of the pres
ent complications to make no nominal
tiOns this fall, leaving republicans free
to make such combinations with the
political enemies of the old state dem
ocraCy as will most damage the old
"Reminiscences. In the matter Of gov
ernOr 1t would matter less than in the
nomination of state representatives and
senators, and members of congress, but
in any event would work no good re-
suit. If the republican vote is properly
cast ibis fall it cannot fail to seat several
opposition members in the state legis-
ture. 1t will not be done, however, by
putting straight republican ticket in
the field. That would do more to unity
the democracy than any course that
could be pursued, and republican sue
cess does not lie in that direction.
The HISTORY OF the growth OF our
booming American cities, in the western
section Of the country at least, is one
history. The cities that have made
progress, increased population, multi
piled wealth, developed their possibili-
ties and drawn to them the commerce
Of large sections, are the cities that
have dealt literally with RAILROADS, fos-
tered manufactures and aided all public
enterprises that have sought assistance
from them. Kansas City is one instance.
Leavenworth had the start of Kansas
City, was large military post and
every way advantageously placed to
become the commercial center of Kan
| sas and Eastern Missouri She mr.