The sun., 1891-06-14


ios,sss to Forsasa Countries added.
THE sun. New York City.
Tho Case OF the Prince Of Wales.
It now seems toierably plain that the pub
lie dlsapproval OF tho Prince Of wALEs's con-
duct in the Tranby Croft affair is deep and
widespread, and 10 beginning to threaten
rerious consequences. Aswe have previous
ly said, some OF the criticisms OF his be-
havior are without any solid foundation; but
there are thrce points rs to which he has
laid himself open to animadversion, II not
to legal penalties.
In the first place, the Prince Of WALES has
admitted under oath In q court OF justice
that he and his companions at Tranby Croft
were engaged In aspeoies Of gambling which
Is illegal under the statutes OF the United
Kingdom. For that offence there is PEN
atty provided, and II the laws of England
arp to be impartially administered, the heir
10 the crown, who after oil Is but subject,
Should not 30 allowed with impunity to
confess himself law breaker. The Eng
lish Radicals, who have determined to move
in tho business, cannot logically do less than
demand prosecution OF all the confessed
participants in tho gambling ut Tranby
Croft. Indeed. unless the statute against
gambling Is to DO openly secuted as a dead
letter, and this cannot be done without ir-
reniedinbly offending the whole body Of
English Non-conformists tho Prince of
WALES seems to deserve to be dealt
with vigorously. seeing that he is by
his own admission an habitual offender, SO
addicted to baocarnt that he carries the
needful apparatus with him in his visits to
his friends. The demand for the enforce
mcnt OF the act against gambling may not
In this instance be enforced, but it undoubt-
edly represents the convictions and senti-
ments Of the Methodist. Baptist. Presby-
terian, and Congregational communions,
which, collectively. constitute q very large
proportion OF the English middle class. To
nlienate the sympnthies OF this class may
well seem deplorablo calamity to the sim
cere upholders OF the principle Of monarchy
in England.
The other motion to be introduced by Rad
icals in the House Of Commons will doubt
less be pressed more firmly. and, however 1t
may be met by the Government, can scarce
ly fail to leave the Prince In an awkward
predicament The Secretary Of State will
be invited to say what action he purposes to
take in regard to Field Marshal the Prince
OF WALES, Gen. OWEN WILLIAMS, and Lieut..
BERKELEY LEvKTT. who signed document
permitting man believed by them to have
cheated at cards to remain an officer OF the
British army. Tho Secretary will also be
requested to state whether the three officers
Just named, by pledgin9 themselves
to secrecy in CUMMINGS case, did
not break the army regulations requiring
such q matter to be brought Immediately to
the notice OF the Commander.in-Chief
There is no doubt that tho Prince OF
WALES broke the regulations on the subject.
which II is customary to enforce with the
utmost rigor. and that by such violation he
has given grave offence to those who have
at heart the honor OF the British military
and naval services. It is the view OF the
affair taken by army and naval officers
which. to a large extent, accounts for the
,lnfriendly tone OF the comments on the
Prince OF WALEs's conduct in many Of the
Tory journals as well as In the London Times.
There is still another aspect Of tho affair
which Is not favorable to the Prince Of
WALES, considered as man Of honor and
gentleman. We do not question that Sir
WILLIAM GoRDoS-CUMMrNG was guilty of
cheating; his behavior. when charged with
the offence. can be explained upon no other
theory. It is extremely doubtful, however,
whether any jury would have convicted
him on the evidence OF his accusers, and
tho conclusive testimony against him
was his written agreement never to
play cards again. In return for that
agreement, which stripped the unhappy
man OF all means OF defence. they who
wr,lng 1t from him bound themselves to
absolute secrecy regarding his wrongdoing
The pledge was broken. Who broke 1t 4?
With one exception. all the persons cog.
nizant OF the affair swore in the witness box
that they had never divuiged 1t to a human
being. The exception was the Prince OF
WALES who. significantly enough. was not
questioned on the point by counsel on either
sidc. We say significantly. because Cum
MING had testified that he first learned that
the promise OF secrecy had been violated
through Lady BROOKE, who. on the plat.
form at railway station. taunted him
with having been detected In cheating
nt cards. Now. there Is no mystery
whatever about the channel through which
Lidy BROOKE might have received the in
forma Ion. Did she receive it through that
channel? The counsel. as we have said, re-
Trained from putting the question. Did they
know that the Prince Of WALES had blabbed
1t Is certainly not easy to account for their
obliging forbearance upon any other hy-
potlesis. But II 1t be true that the Prince
obtained from friend o virtual confession
OF shameful behavior. and then. after Civ.
ing solemn pledge OF secrecy. divulged
the mistieed to the world. he is certainly not
qualified to serve MS model OF the conduct
becoming an officer and gentleman.
Altogether, the Prince OF WALES must re-
gret that he ever paid that visit to Tranby
Croft. The loyalty OF the Non-conformists
will not survive the disclosure OF his gam
b...ng habits. but what may gall him still
moro Is the reprobation OF his brother officers.
His willingness to cOnnive at retaining a
card sharper on tho roll Of the British army
will not DO readily condoaed; and his repu-
tation for trustworthiness viii suffer unless
he can manage to efface the deepening i'm
a. At