The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-27


WILL QUEEN VICTORIA ABDICATEs
The Queens jubilee suggests reflections
as to what may follow. Great historic and
spectacular events like this dispIace all.
other thoughts while they are in progress,
but their conclusion is apt to be followed
by sort Of reaction and turning from the
past to the future. Sixty years is an ex-
ceptionally long time for any sovereign to
reign-so long that any reasonable SOW
ereign should be willing to abdicate at the
end of that period. Victoria is a reason
able sovereign, and other circumstances
make 1t probable that she may soon lay
aside the crown. She is now past seventy
eight years old, and although the cares and
burdens of state are made very easy to
her she must feel like laying them aside
She is a widow, devoted to her children and
grandchildren, and in her last years would
probably like to spend more time in their
society and in purely domestic enjoyments
than she can as Queen. Moreover she can
abdicate without causing any friction or
confusion in the government. The success
sion is assured, and the people are so &C.
customed to regard it as a fixed fact that
a change of sovereigns would scarcely
cause a ripple in public affairs. The Prince
of Wales is now fifty-six years old-six
years older than the Queens husband was
when he died. She has been widow thir-
ty-six years, and it would be a natural
feeling If she should wish to see her oldest
son crowned before she dies. There was a
time, and perhaps many years when the
character and habits of the Prince of
Wales were not such as to beget such a
wish or justify a belief that he could safely
be intrusted with kngship. But that period
has probably passed. AS the prince has
grown older he has mended his habits and
developed solid and manly traits of charac-
ter For many years he has performed
with dignity and intelligence the social and
semi-public duties devolving on him as heir
apparent to the throne, such as presiding
at public meetings and special functions,
and has shown growing interest in social
reforms and in movements for the advance
ment of education and science. He has al
ways been popular with the British people,
and is more now than ever. Twenty-Five
years ago when he came near dying with
typhoid fever there was intense anxiety
throughout the realm and his GONZALES
cence was celebrated with great pomp at
st. Pauls Cathedral in February, 1872. If
he has not given evidence of marked ability
it may be said that he has never been
placed in position to test his ability or
call out what powers he may possess. Yet
he is a man of good parts and we'll edu-
Gated. His father the prince consort, who
was admirably equipped for the task, per-
sonally superintendent the princes early
education, and the work was very wisely
and thoroughly done. The prince received
a liberal education, is a barrister at law
and a bencher of the Middle Temple, presi-
dent of the Society of Arts and Of other
societies, and is a man of broad culture.
All his adult life he has been handicapped
by his position, which required him to be
constantly before the public subject to
scrutiny and criticism, and yet without any
power to assert his individuality-a sort of
uncrowned king, and yet subject without
any of the rights or responsibilities of roy
atty. Not many men would have carried
this handicap more patiently or have filled
the peculiar position with more dignity
than the Prince of Wales has done. There
is reason to believe he would be popular
king and that his reign would be at once
conservative and progressive on the lines
established during his mothers long reign.
Probably it would not be a great reign, but
it would be a safe one. His Christian name
is Albert Edward, and when he is crowned
it might be under the title of Albert or
Edward VII AS his fathers name was
Albert the Queen would probably have
preference for that title, especially as the
prince has always been known by it. Eng
land has never had a king Albert, but she
has had six kings Edward of different lines,
the last being Edward VI, of the Tudor
dynasty who reigned from 1547 to 1858. 1t
is not likely, however, that the Prince of
Wales would go so far back for a title, and
he would probably prefer to be the first
King Albert of another dynasty. 1t is high
ly probable that he will become king by the
abdication of Queen Victoria in short
time.