The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-01
QUEEN VICTORIA AND MR.. GLADSTONE.

and that of the United States. A better
understanding of the situation will be
gained by little recapitulation. Under
the British Constitution Ministry, or as
we should say, an administration, only
holds as long as it can command ma
jority in the House of Commons. In
this country it does not matter so far as
it has majority in the house or not. AS
a matter of fact. q majority of the House
is often opposed politically to the execu-
tive branch of the government. This is
sometimes announcement for the admins
tration and may even prove embarrass-
ing, but 1t never causes a change of
administration.
In England 1t Is quite different.
Under the British Constitution a single
defeat of the Ministry, that lie, an ad-
verse vote in the Commons. means
change of administration, or at least an
appeal to the people and the election of
new Parliament, which, after an adj
verse vote. is likely to result In the re-
turn of majority opposed to the party
in power. 1t then becomes the duty of
the sovereign to recognize the popular
verdict by calling on the leader of the
victorious party to form q new Ministry.
This the sovereign must do whether he
OR, rs In the present case, she-is
personally in sympathy with the vic
torious party or not. Although the
British Constitution is not a written
one, it is SD strict and exacting in this
regard that it would be almost as much
as British sovereign's crown was worth
to attempt to ignore or override popu-
lar verdict by refusing to form a Minis
try in harmony with the result of an
election. 1t Is not the sovereign, but
the people, who decide which party
shall administer the government, and
when they,have spoken there is nothing
left for the sovereign but to obey.
The recent elections having resulted
in Liberal victory, though by mar
row majority, it is incumbent on the
Queen to call on some member of that
party to form a Ministry. AS the recog-
nized leader of the Liberal party and
the foremost champion of Irish home
rule, which was prominent Issue in
the elections, Mr.. Gladstone should be
summoned to perform this duty. But
the Queen is bitterly opposed to MIR.
Gladstone's views on the home-rule
question, and therefore does not want
him for Premier. Mr.. Gladstone is not
very acceptable courtier, and it is
probable the Queen does not like him
personally any too we'll. but she posi-
lively hates home rule. which she re-
CARDS as a step toward "the separation
of my kingdom" Hence she would like,
If possible, to form a Liberal Ministry
without calling Mr.. Gladstone to the
head of it, in the hope of getting one
not so strongly in favor of home rule as
he would form. Acting on this idea the
Queen sent for the Duke of DevOnshire
to discuss with him the situation. The
Duke formerly acted with the Liberals,
but broke with them on the question of
homo rule. 1t is evident thes Queen
thought he might serve as a compromise
Premier, and that it might be possible
to form a Liberal Ministry that would
be acceptable to the country without
placing Mr.. Gladstone at the head of it.
OF the interview between the Queen
and the Duke the report says:
The Duke found her Majesty laboring nm
der greater emotion than he had ever seen
her display. After the usual courteous
fnrn o. tIna ha ooI rad hx,lrx n
ruptly whether there were any way to
AVOID sending for Mr.. Gladstone. Her
Majesty added In su DISTANCES:
ITO Mr.. Gladstone personally / have no
objection. but l do object to the separation
of my kingdom. to which understand he
has pledged himself"
The Duke replied most courteously that
it must be understood that while he him
Gladstone, which had compelled him to
leave that gentleman's side heartily TO
strive for the maintenance of the nnlon,
yet the majority of the House of Commons
favorable to Mr.. Gladstone's views must be
recognized. The Duke is also reported to
have said, in reply to her Majesty. that
there was but ono alternative for her to
adopt: She must either call upon Mr.. Glad
stone to form q Ministry or must abdicate
the throne.
Here we have the strange spectacle of
British statesman cOurteOusly inform
ing the Queen that she must conform to
the traditions and requirements of the
Constitution or abdicate the throne.
And 80 strict are these requirements
that the result of the recent elections is
construed as not only a popular verdict
in favor of q Liberal Ministry, but in
favor of Mr.. Gladstone as the head of it.
and that without regard to whether the
Queen likes his views on home rule OF
not. 1t must be remembered that the
Liberal majority is only about forty, and
composed of incongruous elements. Mr..
Gladstone may not be able to form a
Ministry that will hold together more
than few months. And yet the Queen
is not strong enough to depart hairs
breadth from the provision of the un-
written Constitution which requires herl
to call Mr.. Gladstone to the head of the
government. Surely. the British Con-
stitutiOn is a very well-balanced and
delicately adjusted instrument.
WELSH gIN-PLATE- MAKERS VIEWS.
In this issue may be found portion of
an interview with Chairman Rogers, of