Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-21
VICTORIA'S REIGN.
What Leading Men and Women Think
of II.

of 1t.
The New York Independent presents this
week symposium on Queen Victoria's
reign and its most striking characteristics.
The variety of estimates gathered together
Is striking and instructive.
Gladstone says that In his opinion the
grand characteristics of Queen Victoria's
reign as to its public life has been emanci-
patton. Lord Dufferin regards the develop
ment of science in its application to objects
of practical utility the chief gain Justin
Mccarthy says: ITO my mind the one most
impressive characteristic of her majesty's
reign is the fact that she is strictly speak
ing, the first really constitutional sovereign
who ever ruled over this empire If that
does not make an epoch 1 know of nothing
that possibly could
The Duke of Westminster thinks that
lccomotion ard the advance Of electricity
including the electric telegraph are the
characteristic achievements of the half
century.
Mr.. George n. Curzon's view is that the
security which Victoria's reign has given
to the monarchy in Great Britain in the
face of an opposite movement in CONT
mental countries Is the great thing.
Lecky the historian, sums up the salient
facts of the reign as: The simultaneous
growth of democratic politics. theological
heterodoxy, scientific discovery and i'm
perial expansion"
Thomas A. Edison agrees with Lord Duff
FERN that the advancement of science and
its application to industry are the matters
of first Importance. So. too, Patti looks on
science and mechanism as the leading
achievements of the age. Henry NJ. Stan
ley says: The most striking characteristic
of her majesty's reign is a difficult thing
to decide, as the reign is marvellous one
for developments of all kinds, but as no
industry. invention or progress could be
rewarded flourish without means, / am
inclined to think that we must give the
palm to the discoveries of gold fields in
various parts of the world
Sir Henry Irving takes broad view of
the period. He says: THE reign of our be-
loved queen is remarkable for the pro-
digious expansion of the national resources
and for the conquests Of science in many
fields. These distinguish the past sixty
years above any other period of our his
tory. But l am glad to think that the
reign is equally distinguished by the
growth of tolerance. the disappearance of
many prejudices, and the marked abate-
ment of others. not only in religion. but in
the attitude of society toward artistic call
iings-notably my own In short. the arts
have grown respectable happily, without
losing any of their native vigor.'
In the same line Dean Farrar expresses
his estimate: Progress and prosperity, the
expansion of mems thoughts by science
and literature and the universal deepen
ing of the sense of sympathy and brother
hood are among the most characteristic
blessings of this epoch"
Miss Frances Z. Willard takes a rather
sentimental view of the Victorian era She
says: Mine will be typical American
reply. The queen is universally revered,
beloved, In our country because, in the
face of many hindrances, she has set up
and illustrated in her own life the highest
standard of personal purity, thereby max
ing every home the wide world over more
sheltered and secure"
President Eliot of Harvard seems to re-
gard Victorias reign as simply a fortunate
coincidence. She happened to live while
mankind was accomplishing great things
for Itself. He says: The great character
istics of the period during which Queen
Victoria has reigned seem to me to be
things with which no ruler or government
has had much to do. They relate chiefly to
the discovery and development of new
noting the well-being and happiness of
mankind"
Ellen Terry's answer is a good one, true
and philosophical The great thing of the
ment of individuality. especially among
women"
Alfred Austin says: 1.-THE growth of a
keener and more conscious sense Of moral
responsibility, due in great measure to
the example set by the sovereign to her
subjects during the sixty years of her
reign, but likewise, in no small degree, to
the admission to the political suffrage of
the wage-earning members of the commune
ity."
Probably the most remarkable. and, to
Britons, the most humiliating verdict comes
from Mr.. d. Naoroji. leader of the Indian
national congress, who says: THE most
striking characteristic of her majestys
reign to me, as an Indian, is the enormous
addition to the wealth of this country by
the continuation of the grinding. bleeding
system of rule, In continuously increasing
intensity, adopted by her majesty's serv
ants, the authorities. in both countries, in
spite of every desire of her majesty. of the
British people and parliament. to rule In
dia with justice and honor, and to treat
the Indians British citizens in every
respect, instead of as British slaves, as
they are The most striking consequences
of the utter violation of her majesty's
most sacred pledges and Of acts and reso-
buttons of parliament, are the extreme i'm
poverishment of the people of British In
dia, and the infection upon them of all the
scourges of this world--war, pestilence
and famine. May l hope to look forward
to a beneficial change on the present great
occasion of her majesty's reign?'
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