New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-23
TIRE OFTEN AND FER SOVEREIGN.

The publication in the memoirs of Arch
bishop TAFT of confidential letter from the
Oueen in relation to the DisestabliShment OF
the Church in Ireland is attracting much al
tention in England. The inference which the
Liberal press is drawing from it is the queens
reluctance to have the House of Lords reject
large measures of domestic legislation which
are carried through the Commons by over
whelming majorities. This is a safe infer
ence. because it is corroborated by the consis-
tent policy of the sovereign during her long
reign. It is her chief claim to the respect and
loyal affection Of Englishmen that from the
opening to the close of the Victorian era she
has acted upon the theory that the monarchy
and the privileged classes are subject to lin
itations imposed by the will of the people. Her
own Judgment has often been hostile to reform
measures and legislative policies which have
been strongly supported by the popular House {;
but she has invariably refrained from exerting
her influence in opposition. In several political
crises she has gone further and warned the
leaders of the Lords that by persisung IN an
tagonizing the Commons they were Importing
their own existence as a coordinate branch OF
the National Legislature and deliberately pro-
noting the instability of the throne.
When the Disestablishment bill was before
the Lords the Queen interviewed with ready tact
and practical intelligence to prevent deadlock
between the houses of Parliament. Person
allv she strongly dsapproved of the measure
Int she dscened with unering Judgment the
futility and danger of opposing the will of the
Commons which had recently been elected and
/ Aata h.
lsb the Church in Ireland. She constituted the
Archbishop Of Canterbury her confidential agent
in securing the favorable action of the Lords
upon the bill. and at the same time prevailed
upon Mr.. Gladstone to accept amendments
which rendered it less objectionable to the
bishops and the privileged classes. When the
Liberals refer to her course in that crisis as an
earnest of what her policy would be If a
Home-Rule bill were passed by a House to be
chosen at the next elections, they are not
begging the question. The Queen is known &c
be strongly and mcGuivOcaly opposed to the
establishment of Parliament in Dublin, but
she is a constitutional ruler who is aware OF
the limitations of monarchy in England. II
Mr. Gladstone carries the next elections by
large majority, and Parliament enactS a Home
Rule bill, the Queen will not encourage the
Lords to defy and thwart the will of the people
Her uniform policy is decisive in that matter
The chief landmarks of reform which have
made the Victorian reign memorable have beer
established through the sovereignty of the Eng
lish people. The privileged classes have no
originated any of these great measures, but have
retarded and blocked their progress as long a
they dared to oppose them. Early in his caree
Mr.. Bright, after describing those in power a
revealing in wealth while at their feet lay thu
multitude which they had neglected, exclaimed
aft a class has failed, let us trust the nation
That is our faith that is our purpose that /
orr cry let us trust the nation" The Lord
have retained their legislative functions ant
the monarchy has held its ground because tn
nation has been trusted to give force and di
rection to the political genius OF the people
Obstinate neglect on the part of the Lords +
allow the people to rule through their repre-
sentatiyes would have involved the abolition
of the upper house and have imperilled the ex
istence of the throne. The Queen, while strong
! lY pniudiced AGAINST many sf the reform meas