New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27
CROWN OR PEOPLE?
WHAT SOME ARMIES OF EUROPE MAY BE
ASKED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Less than forty years ago troops in obedience
To the commands of their sovereiSns turned
Their guns upon the people and shot and tasro-
neted men, women and even children until
blood flowed ike water in the streets of Beriin
Vienna and of many other of the capitals of
the oid World 1t was not n mob of
tramps ana toughs with whom the military was
called upon To deal, but weIl-to-do and highly
educated citizens professional men. merchants
manufacturers, politicians and legislators-in
fact, all that element which goes to make, I'D
what is known in the Old World the "Bour-
Seoisle and middle classes. who were endeavor-
ING 10 secure the political rights solemnIy prom
lSeu 10 'hefh by the terms of the constitutions
decreed by their respective rulers, bat which
inc latter declined TO put into force until COM
PEELED by the people.
BROUGHT TO THE FRONT IN 1rArv
Would the troops, if called upon to-day to fire
upon thelr fellow cOuntrymen. manifest similar
obedience to the behost Of the "snointed az In,
Lord? That is question which at the present
moment IS occupying to a far greater degree
imam people in this country might bc inclined
10 pc"eNe' the attention of the crowned heads OF
f-uropH' and it has within the last few days.
heen brought before the public through a resolu.'
ton submitted to the Italian Parliament pro-
Nidhg for the substitution of the word ma
tonal' for that Of royal" In the Official drscrin
'loh or the army. The arguments Put forward
~ 'lc supporters OF the melton. which was
eventually defeated by the Ministerial narfv
"hi'h possesses majority in the Legislature
were not only logical, but also powerful and
cannot ftil to appeal strongly TO the people of
Italy, as well every other ci,iIzed walton
ana must assuredly have afforded very ser;ou-
GROUNDS Tor reflection 10 King Humbcrt and
10 his brother and sister monarcI&s
Inc command and control of the army Ia.
from tme immemorial been regarded as tn.
principal source Of power in civilized as well a.
barbarian tat
rate de facto." In France this is-,,paers,ood
SO wei mat the people even go to the extent of
eCii'4hS TO permit the creation OF the officc OF
Seneralissimo insisting that the con1n,aud-in
O"icI OF the army shall remain vested in tho
hands Of the Minister OF War for the time boino
VINO, sometimes military man and scr,c,ir,..
" ciNliah' IS subject TO the supervision and con
troI or Parliament and can be removed bv ,b,
'"'''r as soon as he proves himself to be either
-'''i'''''h' Ihsunordinate Enthusiastically
III England much the same thing is the case
'"e Pracucai though perhaps not theoretical
transfer of the command of the army from, ,;,.
crown 10 Parliament having been ot.ietlv cf-
fectcd during the last two or thrce vcars r.
whereas until the resignation of Prince Coor..
~ "r'at britain, the Duke OF Cambridge tho
I'''' WAS the real generalissimo of the military
i"'''S OF the Empire, exercising in the name Of
'h' Queen only his Office. which he considered
mat he held direct from his august cousin 20
Wh"m alone, moreover, he regarded himself 40
responsible, the command n-chief TODAY &c
welded, not 10y his nominal successor EeId
Marshal Lord Wolseley, but by the civilian
Marquis Of Lansdownc. Secretary OF Stale for |
war, TO whose orders Lord WolseIey is obIipcd |
L. defer.
THE QUEENS SUBMISSION
queen Victoria did not consent to this raJica,
'hafSc without a struggle. The great Dulxe of
Wellington, who, from the time of the Gueon.s
accession to the throne in 1897 until his Coatb in
49, was her principal advisor in ali ,,,iTI5r,, /
matters, was never tired Of imprcssng uuon bor /
mlhd IN" necessity, at all costs Of retaining. in
Inc hands OF the royal family the command Of
the army and his recommendations Were. ran
hrlnod 10y her husband, the Prince Copsort 1,
L"fd Melbourne. Sir Robert Peel ana Lord Ron
'"'Sh"ld. all Of them men in VIII, 81. counsel sbo
place the most profou ID confidence The uoint
'h'H mad" was this, that as long as the COM
""hd"r-ih- hl"f was roy al prince he voud
ne the direct and personal representative Of tho
sovereign, independent to = great extent Of Par
Ildhcnt and superior in influence ard 1r.stica
10 mat legislatures representative. tho Sccrc-
tarY Of state for War IT, on the other ham,
the command of the army passed out of the !
hands OF royalty into tn use Of an ordinary cen
late