Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-23
END or Ay tLLrsTRIors REIGN.

END or Ay ILLUSTRIOUS REIGN
The longest and the most illustrious
reign in English history closed with the
death of Victoria. who ascended the
British throne June 20, 1897, and was
crowned n year later. Victoria was
also the oldest Of British sovereigns, her
age exceeding by n few days that of the
oldest of her predecessors, George III.
Thus in length Of days and length of
actual public service Victoria had
scarcely an equal in history.
In considering the life and character
Of the woman who for nearly two-thirds
Of a century was the ruler Of the British
empire, the first thought Of ber Is as
wife and mother. 1t was her domestic
relations, her splendid womanly quail
ties, that commanded the worlds re
spect and made Victoria beloved as no
other English sovereign has been by her
own people. Tennyson said that "A
thousand claims to reverence closed in
her as mother. wife and queen and
the sentiment was cOncurred in by civil
lized mankind. 1t has been remarked
that never since Elizabeth has there
been an English sovereign for whose
person England has shown such un
qualified regard, even affection. But
the truth is. as was said few days
ago by the London Times, that the old
est British sovereign was also the best
beloved, and this affection was given to
her not as ruler, for In that relation
she played no very great part particu-
larly since she became n widow, more
than thirtynine years ago, but as a
pattern of womanhood. 1t was the do
mestic virtues of Victoria that the his
toran of her life will lay chief stress
upon.
While Victoria always took an interest
in the political affairs OF the empire, her
power was eXcrted mainly in Il negative
way. There were some notable eXCep-
tons to this, however, the most con
spicuous perhaps. and so far as this
country Is concerned certainly the most
| important, being the position she took
regarding the civil war in the United
| States. When British statesmen and n
very large portion of the English people
were disposed to favor the southern con
| federacy. Queen Victoria was the friend
of the union cause and her great innu-
ence was exerted in behalf of that
| cause. "It Is not too much to say" OBJ
serves writer on this point that the
stability of the union, the abolition of
slavery and the displacement of hate by
love between the north and the south
were appreciably due to the course of
the queen, when her action was vital
| co-eftcient in the balances of liberty Oh
the earth" This gave her claim upon
the gratitude of Americans. who feel a
sense of bereavement in her death only
less acute than that of Englishmen-a
feeling that is properly expressed in the
resolution adopted by the United States
senate and In the dispatch of Secretary
Hay to Ambassador Choate. But FOL
the most part the political activity of the
late queen was of n negative nature and
this has been especially the case in re
cent years, during which persona
bereavements bore heavily upon her.
The harmonization of monarchy wifi
liberty is not the least important fac
of the Victorian era. When the lat,
queen ascended the throne few couiC
vote in England. Now there are few
who cannot vote and personal liberty IL
nowhere more secure than there \,
future sovereign of Great Britain will b,
able to put any restriction upon tina
liberty which Is one of the glories o
} the reign that closed with the death o
Victoria.
The successor to the throne, Alber
Edward. who takes the title of King Ed
ward VII, is man of liberal tendencjc
and being nearly 60 years of age prob
ably has no ambition other than to com
mend his rule TO the favor of the people
The new king has been a man of tn
world and while he has given no eyi
1ence of ability for statecraft, he is VII
doubtedly well informed in regard L
political affairs. 1t is at least to be ex
pected of him that he will maintain tn
dignity of the throne. Tho civilize
world sympathizes with Great Britain
and the universal hope will he tina
under her new ruler that great ,nato
will keep its place among the ciyilizc
powers of the world.
CONDITIONS Nv PORTO RICO