New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-29

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The fight against kings and queens goes mer-
rIly on Or, perhaps we should say. savagely.
1t all depends upon the point Of view. Bear
| batting is said to have afforded keen enjoyment
TO the spectators That. indeed, was the reason
why It was abolished. That any bear, however
experienced. found pleasure In II Is not fact
Of record The present case Is not exactly
porallel Some Of the monarchs Ike the Ger
man Emperor, are free to turn and rend their
prosecutors, and do so with great zest
that they may really be imagined to enjoy the
royal sport But others. bound with constitu-
tional red tape, can offer to assortment no de-
iance They must suffer and be still. And In
some instances their sufferngs are so Intense,
their martyrdom so agonzing, that even the
sternest democrat may not unlttingly feel re-
greet that such must be the cost OF forwarding
the sacred cause of liberty.
The latest royal victim is Of all In our day the
most tender ard most helpless. There Is indeed
no figure among all the courts that more mp
pcals TO mans most generous sentiments than
that Of Wlhemna, Queen OF the Netherlands
At ten years Of age she succeeded to the throne
the daughter Of an illustrous house fathcrless
brotherlcss practically alone in the world. save
for her still young mother Now. with her IN
nocent childhood Just ripening into virtuous
womanhood. possessed OF all those charms OF
person. mind and soul that make for perfect
lovclncss. she should be the object Of affection
and of loyalty. upon whom her people should
love to lavish all gifts and all lndulgences
That she should he chosen for savage persecu-
ton. her private life invaded by ruthless tyran-
ry. the common joys OF her age and the uni
vcrsal privileges Of her sex denied her Is sad
comment upon the spirit Of the age. But, as
Burke on n scarcely less tragical occasion truly
said. the age Of chivalry is gone.
The Queen is not to be- permitted to ride
bicycle That is the Privy Councils savagely
stern decree The pleasure that the humbest
peasant girl among her subjects may enjoy she
must never know She must never Join In the
inspiring contest OF words over the excellenccs
Of rival makes Of wheels. Sprockets and gears
and tires. coasting and scorching and century
runs must forever remain sealed volumes The
problem Of "knickcrs" "bloomers" or divided
skirts must ever be allen 10 her royal mind.
From her palace window she may see the gay
professions cycle by. singles, duple1es and tan
dems But from them she must herself for
ever hold aloof. 1t Is most cruel. most unnatu-
raj. The purport OF II Is, Of course, entirely
clear II IS 10 drive Her Majesty 20 abdicate
her throne. And. indeed. no more potent meas
ure could have been devised. For what right
thinking girl OF seventeen would hesitate be-
tween n throne and bicyclei But surely some
milder course could have been pursued. some
less atrocious proposition made simple revo-
luton with force OF arms would have been
preferable to this.
II any Of the spirit OF William the Silent yet
survives. let II b. hoped the young Queen will
show herself worthy OF her race. Her ancestors
let in the sea, TO food again the lands they had
redeemed from II with so much toll. rather
than renquIsh them 10 the foreign oppressor
She will win equal fame II she Will make the
unheard-of choice r"nounce the wheel. and thus
battle the conspirators who would drive her
from the throne