Cochise review., 1901-01-26
VICTORIA, QUEEN AND EMPRESS.


 The death of Victoria, Queen of Great Briton and Ireland, and Empress of h. dia, ends a life that has influenced the world for good in a greater degree than most lives of whom we have any knowl- edge. It is an interesting fact, and one on which the modern advocates of the political rights of women like to dwell, that the two most illustrious reigns be- yond all comparison in British history should be those of two of it's female soverigns, Elizabeth and Victoria. Two persons could hardly be more un- like than these two queens or have liv- ed under much more diverse circum- stances. Elizabeth was the last of the princely Tudors who ruled England more absolutely than any of the other dynasties. She was fortunately sur rounded by wise an able statesmen, but she was at perfect liberty to accept or reject their councils. Governing thus without restraint, the history of Elizabeth is the history of the England of her time. The nation was comparatively poor and weak. Power ful enemies were without and cunning traitors within. But so remarkable was the wisdom of this stateswoman that all of England's greatness has grown from the policies inaugurated by the Virgin Queen.
 Victoria could never have been an Elizabeth but just as surely Elizabeth could never have been Victoria. The absolutism of the .Tudors had given place to an ultra constitutional mon- archy. The people elect House of Commons and the political leader in accord with the majority of that body becomes premier and governs the en- pire. George III. tried to be states man but signally failed. With this ex ception none of the Guelph dynasty have made any pretext to.reigning be- yond signing state papers when and where told to do so. No sovereign since Queen Anne has exercised the preroga.. tive of vetoing any bill passed by parli- ment When Victoria asceuded the throne, the court and English society were nearly as corrupt as Charles II left them. Victoria has influenced Great Briton, not by making laws, but by creating public opinion which is be- hind and above all law. The royal pat ronage, which is rapidly followed by most other patronage, was given to tradesmen of honesty and integrity. God fearing and righteous priests were appointed to the positions of influence in the church. Barristers of learning and purity were placed in control of the law courts. Civil service was in- troduced into the government offices. the army and navy. Immoral people ceased to be received at court and in consequence were barred from society. The British people soon realized that sovereign of lofty moral character was at the head of the nation and that right living was the qualification necessary in them to the securing of royal favor or to rising in whatever walk of life they followed. Victoria was the mother of nine children who with their decendants practically govern Europe. Her subjects have helped to people every country and cline taking with them something of that high standard of morality which has found favor with their queen. These are some of the ways in which her influence for good has been far reaching. Americans re- member her as being in sympathy with the Union during the dark days of our civil war when most of the British aris- tocracy openly championed the south and as the woman who extended sym pathy and comfort to the widows of Lincoln and Garfield such as only one who had suffered the same sorrows could give. Although devout adher- ent of what we call the Episcopal Church, her sympathy and support were given to people of every faith and creed. She has reigned longer than any mon- arch who ever sat upon the English throne and has outlived the usual time allotted to mankind but her death is calamity and the Ameri can people feel deep sympathy with their British cousins who are saying with anguish "The Queen is dead" and with hone "I, I,onp live the Kinp,n