Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-28

The events which have transpred are
among the most notable In history. IL
Is almost remarkable fact that from the
time she assembled the throne until the
present day her interest In tho affairs,
not only OF her empire but OF the world
itself. has been OF the keenest. Although
cntailing oftentlmes a serious addition
10 the other cares and labors OF state,
she has invariably desired 10 be made
fully acquainted with the nature and
character Of diplomatic dealings or impor-
lance with foreign Powers. and II Is no
more than an acknowledgment OF fact
to say that no minister ever failed to
/ find In his consultations with the queen
ready and cordial sympathy in all that
pertaIned TO the wants and wishes OF the
/ people.
Perhaps nc event during the Queens
/ reign Illustrated the strength Of her cnar-
/ actor more than that most conspicuous
one OF 1879 her disagreement with
( Lord Palmerston, whose headstrong rash
/ ness Of policy and mode Of action nearly
/ plunged England into a general war WIN
/ Europe Palmerston was for war and
| the Queen for peace. as she always mas
/ been. Al this time there existed the
! Austrian difficulty. which proved so great
/ q menace 10 the peace OF Europe. nos
/ suth was then gaining the victories that
came the famous coup detat I'm Paris
| The Queen considered that the British
| Government should remain passive ana
/ neutral PalmerstOn personally express
! ed his sympathy with Louis Napoleon 10
the French ambassador at the Court OF
/ st. James. and this, officially, as Eng
! lands foreign minister. Despite falheI-
| stons high standing and popularity win
! Parliament and the people. the queen
/
i action which those best capable OF Judg-
! inc believe saved England from the nor
| tors OF a long and serious war.
/ Following this came the Crimean war
period in which the Queen showed won
drous tact and diplomacy, together WIN
/ a knowledge of the affairs of nations
which. considering the multitude or al
fairs that claimed her attention, seems
| moro than passing strange since tNeh
wars have been prevented in Europe
upon more than one occasion by her ad-
vice and influence over her own minis
ters Diplomatic troubles and friction
! which might have led 20 war, have been
| smoothed over by her personal ana Ior-
! eign influence upon far more frequent
| occasions than history reveals to US. mat
war between England and the Chltrd
| states has been averted by the queen
on several occasions there IS no ooupl
There was the conflict over the Trent
affair. During the war between
the States il was really tn
| Queens influence which pleYenleo
! Great Britain taking up arms for the
| Confederacy. In the struggle over me
| Venezuelan question only rev months
ago. the Queen took active interest anu
urged the course which was finally adop.-
ed upon her Cabinet.
What changes she has seen during her
long rule! IN the sixty years Nicholas L.
Alexander H., Alexander III, ana now
the youthful Nicholas IL. have ascendea
/ the Russian throne Indeed. she tolo"-
ed the politics and participated In tne
international policy OF that empire TOT
a ouarter of a century before the present
car was born. She has seen the Papa
throne occupied BY Gregory NV, BY inc
veteran Plus *, and by Leo XIII. She
has been in close touch with all the
foreign relations OF France during TWO
republics. anL the reign Of Louis Fhlllpe'
and NAPOLEON Ill She has had frequent
communication with the Emperor. fran
els joseph. of Austria, ana pfoD'Dly
understands the complex mechanism OF
that empire better than any sivirs person
beside the Emperor himsrlt. oho mas
Jno1vn Frederic William III, Of Prussia.
has been upon most intimate terms Oh
friendship with william l., Of Germany
and has combined the family and state
re1afionships Of the Emperor Frederic
and the present youthful ruler.
And vet. this veteran dipomatlst
v,oman though she be, in spite OF ner
great age. exercises to-day an influence
mon the affairs of Europe which is not
eoualled by any person who lives. sun
she finds time to keep watch ana "ara
over the social features whlch deinahu
roval attention. Although 1t mas been
her custom, of late years, to permit the
princess Of Wales TO represent lhe
throne on those occasions Of social state
known as the Queens drawng-roomS'
onlv a few days ago she departed from
ber usual custom and received her guests
In nerson. IL IS high honor these
DAYS 70 be presented to England's Queen
for the occasions are rare, indeed, Wheh
opportunity offers.
with all the honors which have been
sbowered thick upon her, honors even
for ROYALTY, she has steadily depreca-
ted the necessity Of woman occupy
ing herself with the cares Of state. Ahu
This deprecation IS not matter OF po.lcy
! but heartfelt. for while the queen "lsne
"a detract in no whit from the duty oil
Royalty. she is always woman never
/ other than motherly and domestic life
offers TO her a peace, tranquility never
found In the pursuits TO which SO many
women aspire.
II may be said for monarchy as II mas
been for stage-that IT has given woman
an opportunity and a career denied else
where No system of government yet
devised by man. save monarchy alone
could have secured for woman such ar
innings as the Queen has had. Al
existing republican systems have care
fully provided against the possibility
Of any woman ever having any such
chance. by denying 10 all women ans
legal right to stand as candidate ioi
supreme office From the ordinary poinI
of view, this alone would turn tho
balance IN favor Of tho Queen anc
womanhood. as an example Of what tho
sex is capable.
To tell all that the Queens jubilee
means. all that viii transpire In conse
ouence thereof, is a task the end OF
which would be distant, indeed. Love
charity. and patriotism, have JOINED
hands 10 make the event one such as
humanity win talk OF so long as history
exists. 1t is not only the Goth anniVer
sarv Of the reign Of a Queen that The
British empire IS TO celebrate, 1t Is
tribute Of affection and respect TO
woman who has won that most charming
OF titles, the Mother Of a Nation.
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