Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-01-25
THE VICTORIAN ERA.

wrought while 1t waxed and waned
Dynasties have decayed and upon their
ruins republics have been builded. The
map of the world has been revised
many times and policies of govern
ment often revolutionized. England
itself, though a monarchy and the seat
of empire, has become but veiled re-
public. When a slip of girl, the niece
of William w. succeeded to his crown
Ferdinand l. was Emperor of Austria
and Metternich the real monarch;
Louis Philippe, the "citizen King" sat
ON the throne of France; Frederick
William was sovereign of Prussia, then
but one of a number Of inharmonious
German states; the most autocratic
Car of the nineteenth century, Nicho
las l., sat on the throne of the Roman
offs; Frederick VI, now dead for more
than sixty years, was Denmark's ruler;
Ferdinand Wis ill-fated child. Isa-
bella H., held the legal title to the
Spanish crown; Italy, in Meternich's
phrase, was still only a geographical
expression; Martin Van Buren had just
been inagurated President of the I'm
tied States.
In England alone during this era
twenty-five Cabinets were formed,
headed by nine Prime Ministers. and
of these all but two QIords Rosebery
and Salisbury have preceded the
Queen to the grave. In the order of
their succession the Victorian Prime
Ministers have been as follows: Wis
count Melbourne, 1S37-1841; Sir Rob-
ert Peel, 1841-1846; Lord John Russell,
1S46-1S52; Earl of Derby, 1852 "a few
months); Earl of Aberdeen, 1S52-1S55;
Lord Palmerston. 1S55-1S5S; Earl of
Derby, 185S-1S59; Lord Palmerston,
1859-1S65; Lord John Russell 1865
1885, Earl of Derby, 1S66-1S6S; Benia'
min Disraeli. 1868 Ia few months);
William E. Gladstone, 1S6S1S74; Ben
jamin Disraeli Earl of BeaconsfeldO
1S74-1SS0; William E. Gladstone. 1880
1885; Marquis of Salisbury, 1SS5-1SS6;
William E. Gladstone, 1856 "a fl7
months); Marquis of Salisbury, 1886
1892; William E. Gladstone, 1S92-1S94;
Earl of Ro.ebery, 1S94-1S95; Marquis
of Salisbury, 1S95-l900 and the present
administration, dating from the gen.
eral election of last year.
The history of commercial, mechani'
cal and poliSldal development. vne
march Of progress and the spread Of
civilization that have irads the vletGf-
ran era the greatest 10 English history,
is but the story Of the nineteenth CEN
tury following it's prologue All the
great railroads of the two Islands nave
been opened since 1897. The Great
Westerns trip to New York, In 1888,
inaugurated the ocean steamship traf-
fic which has now reached such enor-
NOUS proportions. The first electric
telegraph line was opened in England
in the same year. The penny post was
established in 1910. The income tax
was enacted by Sir Robert Peel in 1912
and remains to this day. Free trade
was begun in 1876, and in spite of tha
example of the United States and OF
her colonies, all attempts made to car
ry Britain back to protection have
failed Free trade in ships came in
1849 by the repeal of the old naviga-
tfon laws, of which our own present
navigation laws are counterpart.
The era of great international exhibi'
tions was begun by the one held in
London in 1851 opened by Victoria in
person. All the remaining civil and
religious disabilities were removed !
from the Jews in 1860. The duty on
paper was removed in 1861, and the
daily penny press dates from that year.
Household outrage, vote for every |
man with a home, was enacted in 1867. |
The transportation of conVicts beyond |
the seas was abolished in 1868. The |
state church was disestablished in Ire.
land in 1871. Popular education was
made compulsory and almost free in
1873 when the first London School
Beard was organized. The abolition
of the purchase of army commissions, |
the suppression Of flogging except for
a few heinous crimes. the establish
ment of the ten-hour day in factories |
and mines and state inspection of all |
such employments, the introduction OF
the secret ballot, the enactment of
stringent laws to prevent and punish
bribery in elections, the liberalizing of
the land and game laws the purchase
of all telegraph lines by the govern
ment, the firm assertion Of government
control of the railroads and the levy
ing of heavy progressive duties on the
inheritance of large estates are all in
cluded in the retrospect of progress un-
der Victoria