Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
Enthusiasm of the Subjects Of Hol-
lands First Lady.
WOMEN MAKE HUMANE SOVEREIGNO
Less Likely Than Men to Attempt
Changes Of Policy.
WISE, MORAL AND SAFE


suggests the theory which was put forward
both b. Nassau Senior and by Freeman
that in modern countries the old Salic law
might with advantage he absolutely re-
versed. and instead of a woman being ex-
GUIDED from the throne, none but woman
should ever occupy it, That such propo-
sition should have been put forward by so
intimate an observer and critic of things
political as Nassau Senior, and by so able
q student of history as F'reeman-Freeman,
as a political thinker showed always virile
force, if occasionally modified by pedantry-
proves at least that there is something TO
be said for it, though we do not suggest
that il should be adopted as practlcal
political measure.
There have been. speaking generally, four
Classes OF queens IN history; and III speaking
of them we are speaking OF actual queens
regnant. not of those who We're the mere
conSOrtS of kings. There is the weak and
somewhat characterleSS woman, OF whom
Queen Anne is type; puppet of stronger
natures than her own, dominated by Ia
yOrites, neither capable of ruling nor OF
forbearing TO interfere with those who do
rule. There is. next, the energetic woman
ruler, Il phenomenon so rare that We usual
~ separate her from her sex and treat her
as a thing apart-an unSeXed creature. al
most freak of nature. To this class be-
long such remarkable women as SeIniramis,
Anne and Catherine of Russia and Eliza
beth of England As women, it is impossi-
historical characters; rulers, il is i'm
possible not TO be lost Oftentimes in admir-
alton at their political prOwess and sa-
gaCity. Such women are usually devoid OF
love. and are profoundly skeptical and
Machiavellian. a third class comprises the
women who are strong and full of energy,
but who are yet women. who can be tender
and arfectonate. and whose greatest errors
even are dictated by deep moral convic-
ton. Such a woman was Isabella the Cath
Ole, whose personality is so deeply stamped
no hi
queens comprise those who, without being
weak. are yet womanly, who are we'll
versed in political affairs, and yet who have
no irresistible desire for actual and con-
slant government. who recognize that the
will of the people must be supreme and the
statesmen of the popular choice must rule,
put who yet are not inclined to forego the
privilege OF pressure and persuasion at
what is commonly known as the psyche
logical moment" 1t is of this fourth class
of queens that the true constitutional SOW
ereign is made. and there can be little doubt
that such writer Mr.. Freeman is
probably right in his contention that such
woman Is best fitted by nature for the
position of constitutional sovereign. though
We may not be disposed TO insist on the
crown being tied uD in the female success
sion. Look at the signal advantages of the
constitutional sovereignty of a woman
both from her own point of view and from
that of the nation over whose concerns she
holds such delicate sway.
More Than Live in State
The constitutional maxim that the sover-
eign 'reigns. but does not govern" does
not mean that the sovereign is a mere au-
tomaton. mere quantite neglfgeable If
he or she is such. that is due to defects of
character, not to the necessities of the
situation Because the actual tasks of gov
Fernment are 1ntruSted to the hands of
responsible statesmen, ii does not follow
that the sole function of the sovereign is to
hold receptions and to live in state The
NTKVnsf mi NslT
state does not interfere by direct means in
the machinery of government, but does I'M
QueStonaDly exert influence in subtle WAYS
Now, while nobody could contend for one
moment that women can administer or
control by direct and outward means with
the power and success of men, they are
able tand 1t is the source of the power
welded Dy their SEX to exert pressure by
silent Influence in a much higher degree
thah men can Therefore. assuming the
constitutional queen 10 have the good of
me state at heart, she can work for that
good by more effective means than 4 King
could lie, If he wanted TO carry 4 point
might easily come into too obvious collision
with recalcitrant statesmen AROUND hi1p.
She would find ways known only to women
by which the essential point could 1a car
RED without appearing to set her will
against that Of any of the statesmen
around her Now this is pure gain TO har
for she strengthens her position without
offending any one; and thus while never
Tor a moment ceasing to act in a purely
constitutional way, she yet acquires some
thing of the powerful influence nc The
actual ruler If she is wise and prudent
she will come in time TO occupy Il % ,iti1n
or immense dignity, her Counsel will be
Needed by her ministers in all matters
which she deems essential. and We. she will
never have taken one step beyond the strj..t
limits Of constitutional law and precedent
To accomplish this end. she need NOT nave
intellect beyond the average; il sufices
that she Is endowed with character good
sense ana the royal art of being pleasing
and graciOuz-
Both Ruler and Ruled Gains.
But if the sovereign gains in the way we
have indicated. the state gains likewise
The sovereign is. to begin with. far less
likely, if a woman. to attempt any inter
Ference with direct questions of policy than
II a man. She has much conceded nat
urally 10 her that her mind is apt To he
more contented and less restless and am
Dltlous than is the mind Of a man. Not
%fthStandlng the GATHERINGS and Eliza
beths. singular and abnormal products of
nature, it is clear that to man. not to wo-
man belongs the art Of rule and conse-
Quently the love of direct power A strong
king might, even TODAY defect if NOT
wreck. the proper course of constft ctional
government The virtues for the Cxcreis.
of which one praises Porfirio Diaz in Mex-
leo would become. if not vices at least
dangerous pOtencies. if exercised by Il king
in England or Holland. The mere rossos
sion of a very firm masculine will com
bned with the sense Of tie dignity Of his
position. but without any markell intel.
lectual power, renders the Austrian En-
peror perhaps the strongest ruler in Eu-
rope We acknowledge that he il in his
right place in Vienna. but in London he
would make havoc Of the British Constitu-
tion. Therefore. on the whole, a constitu-
tiOnal monarchy will march much more
Smoothly with queen at its head than
with king; and there will be less restless
jealousy and bitter intrigue among the
ministers Of the crown. The machinery of
government will be better oiled, II will
creak and groan less than under a king
because there Will be less chance of any de-
sign on its essential principle. In a sense
we can scarcely be said to have had com
plete constitutional rule in England until
the present reign. William III was his
own premier and foreign minister: Anne's
reign was marked by incessant intrigue
and dubious influences; George l was only
not n great king because he cared more for
Hanover than for England in the reign of
George II We do see 4 clearer tendency to-
ward the constitutional system, bat the
baEeful advice. George, be kingt' caused
England, during the reign Of George III TO
slip back into a dangerous monarchical re-
action. The regency and the reicns of
George " and William " Were Character
lied by open displays of royal authority
which We could not conceive of now and