New-York tribune., 1901-01-20


raised in any public way. but the Cabinet with
out doubt has considered the expediency of and
possible necessity for a regency. The Queen has
always been most conscientious in the perform
ance of public duties and the fact that under
the advice of her physician she is now abstain
ing from the transaction of business is an inti-
nation that some arrangements may be re-
uuired for providing a temporary substitute
During the repeated illnesses of George III pre-
cipitate and haphazard measures were adopted
for the discharge of the regal functions. Politi-
cal partisans and servile courtiers found oppor-
tunity in these crises for advocating extreme
views on the relations of the Crown and Parlia-
1nent, and while precedents are never lightly
regarded in England, those established at that
period are not adapted for the emergency of the
Queens falling health. There was deliberate
legislation respecting the regency after the
accession of William ", but in every instance
Il was designed 10 fit specific emergency. Ar
rangements We're successfully made, first hav-
ing regard TO the death of the King in the
minority of Princess Victoria; second, to the
death of the Queen while her possible successor.
the King of Hanover. was out of the realm, and,
third 20 the death of the Queen before any child
Of hers had reached the age of eighteen years.
In the first instance the Duchess of Kent would
have been regent; in the second case the prece-
dent Of Queen Anne's reign would have been
followed, ana tne SululHlSlIdllOH u blic boNSA4i
rnent committed to the Lords Justices until the
Kings arrival, and in the third contingency
the Prince Consort would have been regent
without any limitation upon the ordinary royal
prerogative. These specific laws do not apply
10 the emergency which may be caused by the
partial disability Of the Queen owing to the
failure of her health and the increasing burdens
Of age The Prince of Wales Will become regent
if the Queen be convinced that the welfare OF
her subjects and the interests of the State re-
quire the transfer Of the royal functions 10 him.
and the Crown lawyers will have to pick and
choose among the precedents Of the reigns of
George Ill Anne and other sovereigns for
one analogous to the present emergency.
Disturbing rumors respecting the Queens
health have been current for several weeks, but
there has been no public announcement until
this morning in THE Court Circular" Nervous
ness insomnia loss of appetite and Increased
feebleness are grave symptoms at the Queens
advanced aga, and the fact that she has ceased
70 drive out and finds it impracticable to con-
tinue TO transact public business causes great
alarm The Queen, has always been anxious to
spare her loyal subjects needless solicitude re-
specting her health, and publicity in the pres
ent instance is prima facie evidence that she is
breaking down and losing courage. The report
from Liverpool that an eminent specialist has
been summoned from Germany for consultation
respecting her failing sight is hardly credible,
since the Queen if too feeble 10 drive out is not
IN condition for surgical treatment My own
information. drawn several weeks ago from
those closely in touch with the Court, indicated
that the Queen had had slight stroke of
paralysis not long before she left Windsor, and
that II was probable that she would not go TO
the Riviera, since her appetite had failed and
mental anxiety had brought on insomnia.
There are no signs that Lord Lansdowne has
been advised by his Cabinet associates either 70
accept or TO reject the Senate amendments TO
the canal treaty. The English press is waiting
for cues from responsible source, The Times
being the only journal which has committed it
self in favor OF the rejection Of the amended
treaty THE Quarterly Review" in a long,
carefully written article on the Nicaraguan
Canal lays stress upon the discourtesy of the
senate's ex parte attempt to supersede the
treaty without a diplomatic consultation. and
contends that the Davis amendment cannot be
accepted. and that the Foreign Office must wash
its hands OF the whole affair and allow America
TO take entire responsibility for the construction
ard regulation Of the canal, In defiance OF the
rights and interests Of maritime Powers. The
Quarterly Review argues the case closely, and
holds that England cannot sanction In advance
treaty provisions under which an American coup
de main might be possible in war time II care
fully refratnS from drawing q pdIdlel peI"cS4
the suez and Nicaragua canals in this respect
An English coup de main has taken place In
Egypt since the Suez Canal constructed,
and Lord Cromer is in a position to close that
waterway against warships during a European
campaign The Davis amendment simply arms
the United States with a de jure right to close
the canal for purposes of National defence, and
England by her possession of the stronghold OF
power at Cairo, has the the same de facto priVi-
lege in an emergency although her -eminence
in sea power will deter her from taking advan-
tage of # The sincere friends Of Anglo-Ameri-
can good feeling hoping either that the For
eIgn Office will minimize the Importance of the
amendments and accept them, or else take meas
ures for continuing the negotiations and pro-
longing the terms required for the ratification
Of the treaty another year So far as the point
OF dignity involved in the Foraker amendment is
concerned nothing would be easier than TO hold
the treaty back until q special agreement for the
abrogation OF the Clayton-Bulwer Convention
had been negotiated by diplomatic means.
The retirement of Sir Henry ColviIe from the
army is the curt manner in which the War Office
has set aside his appeal for an official inquiry
into the Lindley affair. The only effect Of his
attemut TO have the case tried by the newspa-
pers has been the creation OF a strong opinion
in military circles that the staff work in South
Africa has been defective and inefficient. and
has been responsible for many mishaps- Col
vile Gatacre and Warren are the chief losers
in a war which has been a lottery Of reputa-
tons with, twenty blanks for every prize. Cen
eraI Hunter, who has been one Of the winners.
has been inavalided home and General Tucker,
OF whom little has been heard during the cam
paign has taken his place at Bloemfontein-