New-York tribune., 1901-01-23

husband in stone and bronze. she took the public
into her confidence in the Life OF the Prince
Consort" and her Leaves" from her Highland
diaries, and revealed how deep had been her
love for him and how tranquil and unalloyed
had been their domestic happiness.
THE QUEENS FAvoRITE MINISTER
The American Civil War had begun eight
months before the death Of the Prince Consort,
and his last services TO England had been rem
dered in disinterested effort TO promote the
cause Of the Union and to prevent untimely in
tervention the part of the Palmerston Gov
ernrent. The Queen followed the line of
policy during the continuance OF that struggle,
and proved herself TO be useful friend to the
United States, as we'll as a sagacious sover-
eign. Lord John Russell became Prime Min
lister in 1865. and was followed year afterward
by Lord Derby. Mr. Dsraen succeeded to Of
hce, and enacted the Reform bill. for which
the Liberals had been clamoring and agitating
In 1868 Mr.. Gladstone, with the Reform Minis
try, entered upon his campaign against the Es-
tablished Church in Ireland. The Queen never
neglected her public duties but she was often
weary Of them. Laborious in her examination
diplomatic dispatches and State papers and
igid on all matters OF royal prerogative and etI-
quette. she allowed her Ministers extreme lati-
content 10 follow their advice without argument
or suggestion. 1t was in her library that she
missed the companionship of Prince Albert more
than anywhere else. He had shared the burden
Of reading dispatches and following the course
Of public affairs, and had drawn up memoranda
which were submitted 10 the Ministry. After
his death the business Of governing the realm
became drudgery Of the most tedious kind
Mr.. Disraeli. when he succeeded Mr. Gladstone
in 1874, continued TO interest a sovereign who
was jaded with the cares Of state. She liked him
better than any other Prime Minister since Lord
Melbourne's time. He had neither taste nor in
ciination for those domestic and financial ques-
tions which had engrossed public attention fc-
many years and had ceased to interest the
Queen. He entertained broad views Of the for
eign relations Of England an Asiatic power
and appealed strongly to the sovereign's M
agination by imperial enterprises and Oriental
diplomacy. His first great stroke was the pur-
chase Of the Khedive's 10000 shares in the
Suez Canal. Then he sought 70 ablish
South African Confederation and 20 enlarge Brit
ish dominion in that quarter OF the world. His
next move was 10 confer upon the Queen the
title Of Empress Of India. The Opposition in
the Commons denounced this policy as a tawdry
device unworthy Of the English nation, and Mr.
Lowe made the unfortunate charge that the
Queen had vainly endeaYored to induce two for
mer Ministers to confer this title upon her.
Mr.. Disraeli contradicted him upon the Queens
authority, and urged the necessity of asserting
the position Of the English sovereign as the
supreme ruler of India. The title of Kaiser-i-
Hind was proclaimed at Delhi on January l.
1877, with barbaric pomp. The ceremonies were
witnessed by vast concourse on great plain,
where the sovereigns and native rulers Of India
were encamped with their armies and their
courtiers. Lord Lytton, Viceroy, made a
state entry with his staff and the flower of the
British army behind him. The proclamation was
read from throne Of gold and blue to the ac-
compartment OF heralds' trumpets, the playing
Of the national anthem by a massed band, and
the roar of artillery. II was scene STRANGELY in
contrast with the simplicity which had charac-
terized the Queens early life: but she was
pleased with the splendor Of ceremonials which
recalled the glories OF the Elizahethan reign.
Mr. Disraeli himself continued his career OF
diplomatic adventure under the title of Lord
Beaconsfeld the Queen having been as generous
IN decorating him he had been In bestov,ns
grandeur upon her. In the negotiation, yb,ch
preceded the Russian Turkish War ana .ndas tr
Lord Beaconsfeld's triumph at Berlin. the ouaar
took an intense personal interest He wa.
Prime Minister after her own heart. for he had
magnined the prestige of England abroad .ra
reminded Europe Of the resources of a vorla-
wide empire by sending the Sepoy regiment. to
Malta and by his subsequent conquest az A,-
ghanistan. The Queen repeatedly opened Part.
ment in person while he was Prime Minister
was his guest his country estate ana
lamented his death with a sense of personal loss
Mr.. Gladstone and Lord Salisbury, the Prime
Ministers who succeeded Lord BeaconsheId, were
on markedly different terms with the Queen
Lord Beaconstield was her ideal Prime Minister