New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-13
KINGS AWAY FROM HOME.
REGENCIES NO LONGER CONSIDERED
NECESSARY

beng rcleSated into the background in the clos
irg dec AIDE of the nineteenth century is the be
lief the it is absolutely necessary for a monarch
&c institute a regency Whenever he has occasion
to absent himself from his dominions. Attention
is called 70 the fact by the discussion which has
just taken place at Brussels as to the question
Of whc'her the terms ~ tho constitution would
reQdlre the nomination Of regency on the oc-
castor Of King LeOpuds contemplated visits TO
the United States ana to the Congo, the C0nuo-
Versy the subject 10y a curious coincidence
following closely upon one Of a similar nature
which occurred AZ Berlin just befor" the depart
ure % he Kaiser on his pilgI to the Holy
Land In each instance the legal authorizes
consulted have arrived at the conclusion tha'
IN" sovereign may absent himself, not merely
from his dominiOns. but even from Europe
without . regency providing he remains in tele-
graphic communication with his Government.
The constitution Of Prussia of Belgium, and
in fa,: Of every other .nOnarchical government
o. The O!c World provides for the institution OF
g regency only in the event of thc minority OF
the sovereign or OF the latters being by one rca-
son or another prevented from fulfilling either
Temporarily or permanently his duties as chief
Of the State Now it is held that these duties
can b. fulfilled by means OF the telegraph, ana
that providing ne remains in communication Ivy
wire with the seat of his Government there is
no interruption Of his powers as chief OF the
State such as to render necessary the Eomina-
ton of regent.
Thanks to this verdict Emperor William has
been able to continue his direction OF the des-
tinies Of the vast German Empire even from
Jericho and Jerusalem, while King Leopold mas
the obstacle. removed which until now have
,ti1.r in he
long-contemplated visit to the United States
Bui Il, canno, for senIc months to come under-
take tn, trip to that great African dependency
know. AS the Congo Free state, which owes JUS
creation 70 his initiative and enterprise and OF
which m. - sovereign withou: nominating a re
e,rcv . For although there is Geographic com
r,,,i, alton from the mouth If the mighty congo
pirer .i,noet 70 its source and a cable 'NtendS
from Lisbon 20 st Paul de LOando th' captal
Of PortucaYs Yves, African possessions. yet there
is no ielceraphC communication between 81
PAM 4, Ioando and the mouth Of the Congo
distarc. Of about twenty -four hours 10y steam
King Leopold 10. now taking STEPS to nave
cahI, laid between these two points ana ~
soon As this IS accomplished. poss' hi> ny 'h'
month of January there will he no "onstl'u-
tioual obstacle to his ruling his klngd"ii' 81 h'i-
riu,u All the year round from either Lcop'idN""
or Stanley pool in n. heart OF III" DARK on
tnent.
THE CREDIT OF REMOVING BARRIERS
To King Leopold and to the Kaiser, therefore,
helonqs the credit of having brought about the
removal Of the barriers which may he sald TO
hav. hitherto restricted the monarchs o. ue
Old World from leaving their dominions. Ia
order to appreciate the extent Of this reform 1t
&c only necessary to all the discussions that
wore raised in the British Parliament in the
fortiee and in the fiftes on the subject Oh 'he
alleged intractions Of the constitution by the
Queen in visiting Germany without previously
instrusting her duties az sovereign 10 regent
and in 1859. when Napoleon III went TO Italy II
was considered necessary to nominate Empress
Eugene as Regent during his absence. by de-
erees however, the practice Of royal personages
TO seek recreation and change of scene by travel
In neiehboring countries has led to a relaxation
Of this rule and for the last two decades no
cuestion has ever been raised as TO the power Of
Oueen Victoria to transact her duties as CHIEF
~ Stat. from the South Of France, where she is
IN the habit Of spending few weeks every
.r,ing while in the same way King Humbort
has been able to journey to Berlin, Emperor
Francj. Joseph to go to Russia, and Emperor
William to visit almos, every capital in Europe
without any interruption to their powers as
head Of the Government, rendering the nomina-
ton OF a regency requisite
Curiously enough, the only countries where
this custom of nominating q Regent In the ab-
sencc Of a sovereign is still retained IN all It's
nristine force are Greece, Egypt and, wonderful
10 relate. Ireland Lord Cadogan, the Vceroy