The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-07

To the world in general few things could
he much more surprising than the enthu-
siastic reception which has been extended
to the venerable Queen Victoria on the oc-
casion Of her present visit to Ireland, after
an absence Of forty years Before the event
indications were not wanting that the aged
sovereign might he met in the chief city
Of her Irish kingdom with chilliness II not
with open discourtesy. On the contrary
ST. Patrick himself could hardly have been
more warmly greeted in Dublin than the
queen has been.
The fact reflects the highest credit upon
the Irish good sense and good heart. EV-
cry intelligent son of Erin knows that
under the British Constitution, the ruler
of the United Kingdom has very little
positive political power That Veto
ria is a political quantity at all is con-
sequence merely Of her remarkable ability
as a person Of affairs and her wide knoWl-
edge and understanding Of the politics OF
all nations Her influence over English
statesmen Of every sort and afiliation has
been and is very great; but no one can say
that IL has ever been used for or against
apv party or in the way Of interference in
any scheme Of legislation proposed by the
parliamentary majority of the day. She
has accepted and has been guided by the
advice Of. and has Loyalty supported Con
servative OF Liberal Ministries with equal
cheerfulness and dignity. Wherever her
influence has been exerted 1t has been in
behalf of patriotism, justice, and mercy,
Possessed Of a constitutional prerogatiYe
of absolute veto she has never but once
exercised it. and that only on the petit
ton OF the Government, endorsed by oppo-
sition leaders in both houses Of Parlia-
ment. in case where a palpable blunder
had been committed in passing an act
which afterward was found TO be improper
and unenforcible, and the veto was the
readiest means for getting rid Of it. In
this country We have ample reason for
feeling kindly TO the good Queen, for II
was largely through the exercise Of her
friendly influence and that of her noble
husband that Great Britain and the United
states did not fly at each others throats
over the Trent affair. an incident Of oui
civil war.
Irishmen would have to be other than
What they are II they could be cruel Of
ungallant enough TO visit The sins Of th'
whole British nation uDon this feeble little
old lady. sorely stricken in years. who's
pure and wholesome court and family lif'
and personal uprishtness have made he
the exemplar Of English speaking won
anhood We are more than pleased to SCI
that the men and women Of the Emerald
Isle have. opened their hearts 10 her. II
so doing they have not only shown no
bility. but time viii doubtless prove tina
hey have materially advanced the inter
ests OF their country. Their attitude ap
peals with grace and power TO that worl'
sympathy and sentiment which nation
no longer dare 20 lout, and we shall b.
greatly mistaken il The history OF sue
ceeding years does not show a far bette
sDirir toward ireland in Westminster Hall
and d much greater willingness to do he
Justice than has been observable in thu
past Both Her Majesty and The Irisl
people are TO be sincerely congratulate,
urou the happy rapprochement.