The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
CIRCULATION Statement.
constitutional Monarchy.

peoples can GODSl1eG a S.S-
TEN surviving from medieval days as good
as ours, or better, or how they can toler-
ate and even venerate theories and Gus
toms which America threw overheard with
the tea into Boston Harbor.
While We are entitled to hold as a basic
principle that free self government is bet
ter calculated to ensure human happiness
and prosperity than any other, we are also
bound TO recognize several truths which
might be thought to limit its universal
application. For instance. we are COM
PEELED to admit the probability that. if the
late Queen Victoria, with her simple and
honest devotion TO the interests of peace
and justice. had occupied the throne from
1760 to 1920 instead of her grandfather,
George III. this American community
would have been today one of enthusiastic
and loyal BTitishers. We must also con-
fess that constitutional, representative
government has reached an advanced
stage of Development in Great and in
Greater Britain, and that the free people
living under the British Crown are con-
WINGED that no subjects or citizens under
any other jurisdiction or system enjoy
greater rights, privileges, and immunities.
When ii comes 10 the consideration OF
The essence of things. the British Consti-
tuition is much more elastic and demo-
cratic than ours. Beginning at the top,
there is an bonored but lar gely ornamen-
tai sovereign who reigns. but does not
rule. Nominslly he, or she, is supreme;
practically, there is not Crown preroga-
tive that could be invoked against the
win OF the British people, as expressed
through the House of Commons, resort 10
which would not wreck the dynasty. The
executive ruler of Great Britain is the
Prime Minister. In him actually inhere
The treaty-making and the war-making
powers of the State. The King may be
bitterly opposed TO war, but if the Min
istry. with the Commons at their back,
want war. then war must come. In ef-
feet. the King or Queen OF Great Britain
il nothing more than hereditary honor
airy chairman. The popular branch of the
Legislature, in the last analysis. is the su-
preme, unrestrained and irresponsible
power. What is called the British Cen
stitution is subject to instant change at
the hands OF Parliament. Its simple ae-
tion in passing bill to that effect would
be sufficient 10 change the succession, put
another family on The throne or abolish
royalty altogether.
If We compare our own Constitution and
governmental system with that of the
mother country we shall find that many Of
our laws and practices are much less pop
ular in character than those on the other
side. Our Presidents are in reality cleo
tive monarehs. with enormous personal
power and authority, chosen every four
years. The President, through the opera
tion OF the veto power. patronage, and
privileges recently won at the expense of
Congress, or assumed in defiance of the
Constitution, is almost an autocrat. He
Yields more individual sovereignty and is
more able to control the course of political
or international events in which the ooun-
try is interested during his term of office
than any other constitutional sovereign in
the world. In the same line our Senate is
vastly more potent and Independent than
the House of Lords. On the other hand.
our House OF Representatives, which one
would suppose to be the strongest of our
legislative institutions, has largely sur
rendered its functions to a committee of
party leaders who use the majority in the
body TO pay campaign debts without refer
ence to the wishes or interests of Repre-
sentatiYes or constituencies. On the
whole. then, 1t is useful for US to take
pause before determining that the Amer
lean people have all the liberty and repre-
sentative institutions extant. Our British
relatives are quite satisfied that they
have the same things and probably would
not feel the smallest desire to trade sys-
TENS with us
How deeply this feeling is implanted in |
British hearts is exemplifed in the speech |
OF Lord Salisbury in Parliament on Fri !
day. when he paid his tribute and that of /
his colleagues in the Government to her
late Majesty. The Premier said:
eve who haze had the opportunity Of seeing |
the close working OF her character in the dis |
charge OF our duty 10 her take this opportunity
of testifying TO the great admiration which she
inspired and the great force which her dis /
tirguished character exercised over all who came
near her. The position OF constitutional I
ereign is not an easy one. Duties have to be /
reconciled which sometimes seem far apart; that
may have to be accepted which may not always |
be pleasing TO accept, but she showed wonderful 1
sfrictncss the limits imposed by the constitu.
tion, and, on the other hand OF maintaining q
Esf'3dH ana persistent influence on the action OF
her Ministers and the course of legisl1ti0n-an
influence which could mistake. She was
able to accept some things which, perhaps, she
did not entirely approve, but which she thought
IT her duty in her position 10 accept. She
slwsys maintained and prac;iced a rigorous super
vision over public Affairs, giving her Ministers
the privilege of her advice and warning them
OF dangers II she saw dangers ahead. She GER
family impressed many OF US with a profound
sense Of her penetration. almost intuition, with
which she the perils with which VIC we're
threatened and the conlse 1t expedient 20
pursue. She isjt on my mind that It always
dangerous 10 fake any step 81 any great inn
portsnee Of hlc wisdom OF which she was not
thoroughly convinced. Without going into de-
tails I may gay with confidence that no Minister
during her long reign ever disregsrded her ad-
vice OF pressed her TO disregard Il without al
ways feeling that hs had incurred a dangerous
responsibility and frequently running into
danger. She had extraordinary knowledge Of
what her people would think, 90 much SO that
have said for years that always thought whom
| knew what the Queen thought | knew pretty
certainly what her subjects would think, especial
ly the middle CLASSES. She had extraordinary
penetration. yet she never adhered to her own
conception obstinately. On the contrary, she
sss full OF concession and consideration. She