The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-19
THAT ENGLIsm suANDAL.

The evidence in the Sir Gordon Cum-
ming case seems to bear out the state
ment that the Prince of Wales was re-
sponsible for the publicity of the gambl-
lug scandal. All the others swore that
they had not violated the pledge of Sc
crecy; but upon this point Wales was
silent ana the charge is made that he
told the tale TO some of his lady friends
TO whom 1t was rare morsel for idle
gossip. Sir Gordon Cumming was
doubtless deseredlY punished. and his
tair young American bride, whose love
was great enough to believe him inno-
cent in spite of the Judgment of the
court, must share the disgrace of social
ostracism with him. Yet Wales will h /,
the greatest sufferer. The spectacle of
the heir to the English throne carrying
around gambling layout to the priyate
houses that he visits, and the fact that
he practically compels his friends to
play, willingly or unwillingly, is elify-
ing to the English nation and makes
even the most sturdy Royalists trembIe
at the thought of danger to the throne
when Wales becomes the King. It was
significant of the feelings of the Eng
llsh middle class that at the Ascot races
the Prince should have been hOoted at
by wel-dressed people and ieerinply
asked if he had drought his llyout with
him." Such an unpleasant incident has
never occurred before in. his experiences
and the attempt of his friends to cheer
down the hootings was dismal failure
About all there is remaining to monarchy
in England is the great respect, admira
ton and affection entertained for the
good old Queen whose reign must If
necessity soon be ended. When she is
gone and respect no longer gives honor
to the ruler who will take her place. the
end of monarchial England will have
been reached. The country is now even
more OF republic than our own for al
though our presidents are chosen by the
people, they have and exercise far more
power than is conceded to the Queen of
England. 1t will be but short step
from their present form of government
for Englishmen, to one which elects the
executive officer of the country upon
whom will necessarily be conferred even
greater powers of government thar the
Queen now possesses.
Nothing akin to the baccarat scandal
could have happened in this country In
the first place American gentlemen do
not carry with them implements of gam
OllnS When they so to visit at the houses
of their friends. 1t may be that they have
no need to do this because each gentle
mans home is supplied with the cards
and counters land no doubt so are English
houses for we are informed, somewhat
apolOgetically it would seem, that all
English gentlemen gamble. Be this as
it may, however, such scandal would
never have been made public here not
even had it occurred in any of the lead
ing clubs. The offender would have been
dropped, stunned socially and in
every other way but it would
not have become public gossip,
although disgrace could only come to
the person offending. With Wales, there
was this difference: He had a personal
interest in avoiding the publicity of the
scandal. 1t would bring out one of his
social characteristics in too strong a
light and yet he was foolish enough to
give his confidence to. a woman, they
say, because he was jealous of her friend
ship for Sir Gordon Cummings, and
from her the story became public prop
erty. Through this one incident the
throne of England may never hold an
other Occunaut -Ru1Upf