Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-01-21

to the duke Of Cumberland, the late
kings younger brother.
Without delay the influence Of the
young queen upon the national life of
England began to make itself felt.
When Victoria came to the throne the
whig ministry of Lord Melbourne, of
which she had the strongest regard
was in power. The duke of Wellington
was of the opinion that the tories would
never have any chance with the young
woman as a sovereign. But before
many years lit was apparent that wo-
man could be capable of as sound a
constitutional policy and could show as
Little regard for personal sentiments in
business of government as any man.
She has reigned true queen, but she
has not ruled except by force of her
strong influence upon her government.
Il 1t is impressive to note the sequence
of rulers whom she saw rise and pass
during her reign. In her own ministries
there have been eleven lords chancel-
lors and ten prime ministers In the
United States we have had seventeen
presidents. France has had a king, an
emperor and six presidents, Russia
three einpelors, Prussia five kings,
Germany three emperors and Canada
ten viceroys. Since her accession the
area of the British empire has been
more than doubled and the woman
crowned queen dies an empress
Not a asovereign now is living who sat
upon his throne when Victoria wac
crowned and no member of her first
ministry is Mving.
Friendly to Lord AIelbournes gov
eminent as Victoria was that ministry
remained In power until 1S4l in spite OF
the hostile majority against 1T in the
house of commons. During that time
the condition of the manufacturing
poor was deplorable and it gave rise 10
1.-The Chartlst agitation for admission to
equal political rights with the middle
classes. Four years of disturbance,
which included the rebellion in Canada
and the lalbors of ths- Anti-Corn Law
League, under tine lead of Golden, end
ed this ministry and brought Peel into
power.
The change OF governments WAS
made in the midst OF a war with
Afghanistan, which ended fortunately
for the British arms, altho i proved
not expedient to assume control over
sion of frequent disorders on the In
prospect, too, of a general European
war, caused by the alliance of Great
Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia
for the purpose of adjusting intolerable
conditions in Egypt. Sir Robert Peei's
ministry succeeded in placing foreign
saffairs on a satisfactory footing. tho his
domestic administration was less for
tunate. Fiscal affairs within the king
dom We're in disorder, such subjects as
free trade, factory labor, education and
religious controversies keeping the
!pubtic mind at high tension. Emanci-
patton of the Catholics had not served
to quiet Ireland and the Irish question
was as potent an element OF concern to
the government then as it was for
many years after.
Parliament closed the session of 1S45
quietly enough after admitting Jews to
the privilege of holding municipal office
and settling the disputes,vith the United
States over the Oregon boundary. Then,
however, came he potato famine in Ire
land. The cabinet divided over the
question of the admission of grain free
lof duty and the Peel ministry fell, Lord
John Russell succeeding 1t. The mar
kets were thrown open to foreign as
well az colonial sugar. and the repeal Of
the navigation laws enabled the mer-
Ichants 10 employ foreign ships apd sea-
men ia trade.
After the short ministry of Lord Der
by another sweeping abolition Of du-
ties was carried by Gladstone, VINO
served as chancellor of the exchequei
lin 1853 in the ministry of Lord Aber-
deem. This was the period of the intro
ductiorl OF free trade policy into Eng
lish politics. the policy since once estab-
lished has remained fixed in the fisca'
system of the united kingdom.
The wars of Queen Nictoria's reign
have been numerous and significant In
cause and results. First and creates,
came the Crimean war between Russia
and Turkey, in which England and
France supported the cause of the sui
tan. England Was jealous Of Russian
advance at the east. and in the hands
of the Emperor Nicholas the govern
ment of Russia was a military despot-
ism that aroused constant Indignation
in Great Britain. The English always
have maintained that England might
well have been regarded as fighting the
battle for all Europe az we'll as contend
ing in its own cause. The campaigns OF
Seyastapol and Inkerman We're victories
for the allies but the inexperience OF
the British army its inadequate equip
ment and the bravery of the Russians
made the victories even disastrous To
the victors and left the nation IN
mourning.
For some time after the Crimean war
the business of legislation for the en-
pire proceeded without any grea,
shocks. The suppression of vast mil.-
tary rebellion in India in 1857 and the
entire defeat of the sepoys was fol-
lowed by the assumption of direct au-
tthority over India by the crown Minis
tries rose and fell rapidly in those days
Palmerston, Russell, Derby and Dis
raeli in turn attempted the control OF
legislation in short-lived ministries. II
was q misunderstanding with the en-.
peror of France with reference to Eng.
land as a refuge for political exile.
which led to Palmerston's downfall
| Disraelis reform bill. war between
France and Austria for the liberation
| of Italy and other minor domestic diff.
culties unseated the Disraeli adminis-
ltration.
/ 1t was in the reign of the Palmerstor
| government that the civil war in tn,
United States broke out. 1t was peri.
cd of uncertainty in the relations Of tn,
two countries. the governing classes Of
England largely favoring the southern
states and the masses remaining ii
| lsympathy with the north. Perhan,