The San Francisco call., 1897-06-20

her whole life has been absolutely spotless.
The fire of scandal has never touched the
hem OF her royal garments, anu her court
has been Kept free from much that had
discredited that of her predecessors. The
decentralization which had, up to her time,
seemed inseparabie from Lofty station, un-
defended from assault on its moral side,
has had no possibility of existence within
the circle of h-r influence. II is not easy
TO realize, indeed ii is imposs bic to fully
appreciate the marvellous and lofty princi-
pie enforced with undiminished courage
and unfailing tact with VII CHI the Queen
created at the beginning of her reign an
atmosphere of purity IN her personal and
public relatlons-an atmosphere which no
British court had up TO that time ever
breathed-and which has perpetually sur
rounded her at every step of her career, in
inexperienced youth as well as in mature
age.
Moreover, the people have loved the
Queen because she has always untiinch-
inRlv maintained the principles of the
British constitution. Never once has ap-
reared in her the spirit of absoIutisCl.
While she has certainly impressed her
character and views unOn the legislation
of Parliamen. and influenced her Minis
ters in the foreign policy OF her govern
m ent yet never in a single instance has
she sought to defeat the ex press desires OF
her constitutional advisers or placed her.
ment She has moved in harmony with
both. because she has always nplicitly
trusted the ultimate judgment of the
British people as fully and truly as the
British people have loved and honored
her.
Her royal prerogatives have never been
assaulted by, Parliament or people. The
Queen has always welcome extensions of
the franchise and all legislation looking
toward the widening anu deepening of
public education and the improvement of
every social condition.
at is the American boast that the Gov
eminent of the United States is of the
people, by The people and for the people,
but it IS nevertheless, fact that the Brit
ish Queen and Parliament have done in
inltely more for the Improvement of So
cial conditions. for popular education, for
the relief of individual and class burdens
and the general amelioration of the condi-
tion of the laboring, manufacturing and
pa, toral classes than our Government. has
ev done.
"More conscious thought has been de-
veloped, more money has been expe nded,
more sacrifices have been made, more in
dividual burdens have been assumed
by the British Government for the benefit
OF these classes for their education and
refinement than all the States and the
u 1jted States Government put together.
"No American citizen can review the
Queens conduct toward or the relations
OF her Government with the United States
without recognizing everywhere the
kindly and gracious sentiment which has
invaEably characterized her. There is no
American living at the commencement OF
the Civil War who will ever forget what
has passed into history as the Trent at-
fair"
"In the fall of 1861, when doubt and un-
certainty clouded with perplexity and
care the future of the Union and its fate
was hanging in the utmost suspense, the
San Jacinto, United States war steamer,
arrested in midocean the British mail
steamer Trent and forciby took from her
Messrs. Slidell and Mason and their asso-
clates, four Southern citizens, OIL their
way TO England charged by the Confed-
eracy vii a diplomatic function to the
Brush Government The act was in
gross violation of international law, ex-
tremely provoking and unless disavowed
furnishing 4 solid cause of war, and GER
tainly calculated 10 arouse that sense OF
instin ctive resentment which is natural
to proud and fighting race.
!'Many mem berS of the English Cabinet
were more than suspected of desiring TO
behold the disruption of the American
Union. The Prime Minister was not slow
to avail himself of this opportunity for
armed interference. He caused to be ad-
dressed to the British Minister resident at
w dSDluEIO0 com W ulC0
roughly required the restoration to liberty
and the return to the deck OF the Trent,
the captured confederate Com missioners,
and with them an ample and humble
apology. His demand was coupled with
an unmistakable threat and menace OF
war in case of failure to comply with his
demand. 1t was precisely such diplo-
matte paper, and was SO intended TO be, as
would have brought on war between Eng
land and the United States as a necessary
consequence.
alt left and was designed to open to the
latter no way of decent retreat from false
position save through the gates OF National
Tear w hen the proposed dispatch was
forwarded to her Majesty and was exam
med by herself and the Prince Consort it
was totally disapproved. It's trucu.ent
language was eliminated, and the Prince,
at the Queen's dictatioD, corrected and re-
framed Lord John Russell's dispatch. so
that 1t spoke in gracious and kindly
spirit, suggesting, rather than demanding,
what was plainly right and plainly just to
be none by the United States. and express
Ing the hope that the latter would at once
see the propriety of immediate and full
amends. need not say the suggestion of
the dispatch was gratefully accepted and
promptly acted upon by President Lin
coin.
This action of the Queen saved the
Union. She took from il the unsupport-
aoie burden of a foreign and domestic
war, the result of which would have COM
pleied the destruction of the whole fabric
oi our government, then almost tottering
TO rum"
General Barnes spoke feelinely of the
wom@1ly tenderness with which the
Queen expressed her coincidence with the
wife OF the martyred President Lincoln,
and the kind sympathy with which she
comforted the widow of President Gar
he tad Pf of he
United States Senate in refusing to con-