The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-12
WILL WALES BE KING?
vICTORIAs HEALTH AGAIN CAUs-
ING UNEASINESS.

BILE Dissipation end Social Excuses.
Some of the Notable Escapades of
the Heir-Apparent.
(Copyri0ht)
LONDON, Dec. 27.-The failing health of
Queen Victoria and the failing morality of
her noble relatives, exemplified by the most
recent scandal, afford ground for all sorts
Of speculation regarding the succession to
the throne. OF late years the helr-apparent
who is now getting well along in middle
life-has been much more circumspect than
was his wont decade or two ago; but the
memory of Albert Edwards early career
and the singular indifference he displayed
whenever a chance was afforded TO
do graceful thing in public are not
easily forgotten. Indeed, his year of grace
seems to have come all too late to redeem
his lost opportunities for finding favor in
the eyes of the sober minded people of
''merrie England" While the prince is
unquestionably popular among a certain
class, including sporting-men and coster-
mongers, whose love and admiration he has
won by iningling at dog fights, horse races,
and boxing matches, these laudible predllec-
lions do not seem to favOrably affect
ruler of the destines of an empire.
Alarmist rumors as to the queens health
aside, it is certain that the sturdy old lady
who has SO long sat upon the throne of the
Guelphs is no longer the hale aud hearty
parsonage who used to think nothing of
run to the continent in the season, or a trip
to the Scottish Highlands whenever she felt
like renewing old acquaintance among the
hills and braes around the summer castle at
Bamoral. She is seldom seen, nowadays,
save by the intimates of the court, and her
outings are few and far between. Under
the anvice of Sir Henry Thompson aud DR..
Jenner, she diets strictly and has even been
induced, as a precautionary measure, to
discontinue the personal use of wines at the
royal table, and particularly Of bottled stout
and champagne. Now this must not be
accepted gleefully by your friends in Rhode
Island and other ''drv"sectiOns of the United
States, as indicating that her Britannia
majesty has suddenly become a pro-
hibitionist; she is just as partial
to wines and liquors as ever
But she can no longer take them
with impunity, and the slightest indulgence
"a single glass of champagne, even-pro-
duces a cardiac agitation which, in her
case, might be followed by serious results.
SO the doctors have very wisely restricted
her august appetite to the mildest of stimu-
lants, gin and bitters, in a much diluted
form. 1t isn't exactly royal tipple, but it
happens to be the only one that at present
suits without aggravating the physical re
quirements of the eight little island" who
has been accustomed from time immemorlal
to her claret, sack and champagne at din
ner, and her big bottle OF stout before retir-
ing for the night.
The present is not the only occasion on
which the ailments Of the queen have set
the tongues of rumor wagging as to the
e
many parts of England feeling that is the
reverse of admiration for prince who has
illustrated in his own person much if not
all of the striking attributes said by Thack-
cray to have belonged to the Georges. Even
the army and navy share the same an
tagonistc sentiment in this respect,
although in these well regulated organiza-
tions it is perforce allowed to slumber I'M
expressed. Besides, the shrewdest of British
politicians, even Gladstone himself, are
fully alive to the fact that when the queen
dies, and, amid cries Of LA Refine est Mortl
Vive le Roi." Albert Edward ascends the
throne, it will not be the day of rejoicing
that usually greets the advent of new
sovereign.
1t is beyond question that the radical
press has sedulously cultivated opposition
Ito the Prince of Wales, by its very frank
utterances during many years past. OF all
his royal forerunners, none has been so
ruthiessly held up to public condemnation
for his social misdeeds as he. In another
age, his foibles might have been
largely overlooked, but the present
generation of Englishmen is like
none that has preceded 1t. 1t is frank
and Independent in voice and political
action, and does not hesitate to criticise the
crown on what has till now been deemed
almost sacred ground. The opposition to
the additional grants recently proposed to
be made from the public treasury for the
support Of some of the more distant progeny
of the royal household was an illustration
Of this spirit.
In the cozy room of the Constitutional
Club, few evenings ago, l talked with a
member of parliament who has repeatedly
distinguished himself on the liberal side by
the warmth of his speeches on the invasion
of the peoples rights by royalty. Conversa-
ton turned upon the subject of the success
sion. Said he:
at is a question we don't like to discuss.
and most of us prefer to wait till necessity
is at our door before taking it up. This is
the era of progressive ideas here, as else
where, and very many Englishmen revolt
at the suggestion of having as their ruler
one who has behind him a career like that
of the prince. OF course, there will be no
revolution; nothing of the sort. This is not
France, you know, but we are all hoping
that when the exigency does arise, the
country will be saved from an influence
that cannot be regarded as other than unde-
sirable
whether it was due to his rearing or
was trait peculiar to him alone of all the
family, is undecided but it is well known
that the prince, who in the natural order of
events is to be the future King of England,
has all his life been possessed of spirit for
adventures of a sort not in harmony with
the idea of modern civilization, to say
nothing of christianity.
81 know that his conduct has been source
OF undisguised vexation to nearly every cabi-
net that has held power these many years
past. 1t is needless to add that it has been
bitter disappointment to men who, strong
and loyal like Gladstone, yet cannot fiud
themselves in mood at any time to ap-
prove the course of one who, instead of
being model of character and department.
TO the nation, has been the rsversen
"Should the queen suddenly die, what
would be the procedure regarding the sue
cessionP' | asked him.
"The ministry would at once be sum-
moned to the palace and the official in
vestiture would take place before the
sovereign had been dead day. The an
nouncement would be conveyed by the new
monarch himself, who would at the same
time make public announcement of the
death of the queen. Then the Lords and
Commons would meet and take action, de-
claring their fealty to the crown. The pub