New-York tribune., 1901-01-23
THE KING.

lSOuS i've Iuc Mig 10 ILC pAOSAdAAN~'4O-- "a
to-day in the United Kingdom and throughout
the Empire upon which the sun never sets. 1t
is feature of monarchy that 1t knows no inter
regnum, save in cases so rare to be reVolu-
tOnary The moment that sees the death or
one sovereign sees also the accession or another
So to-day there is a new figure among the rulers
Of the world. figure new as that or ruler
though long familiar a man and as the heir
to the throne Indeed not many heirs apparent
have waited for accession as long as he, and
none, we may confidently add, more patiently.
There has been furtve trying on Of the
maternal crown. And to-day it may well be
believed that, apart from the incOnSOlable be-
reavement and regret which he feels at the loss
Of his revered mother, for simply personal rea-
sons His Majesty ascends the throne of his
ancestors with no eagerness. but with sincere
reluctance. To one who would serve his own
comfort and pleasure there is little to be desired
in royal palaces To one who would serve the
welfare of his people there Is opportunity which
is to be accepted more as duty than as de-
light the delight that is found in duty itself
The King. we have said, is well known as
a man and prince For quarter of century
he has been the greatest parsonage in Europe
outside the list of reigning monarchs-the most
courted the most sought after. the most in
perpetual evidence. 1t would be futile TO pre-
tend that under the fierce light that has beaten
upon him, every impression the world has ever
formed has been entirely favorable. Where,
indeed, shall we find the man in whose career
no one has found something to disapprove or
10 regret? On the other hand, there has
always been much in his life. and steadily
more from year to year that all the world
commends and admires. We now consider
ing him as the Prince of Wales which he was
from his birth to yesterday. And we have only
TO compare his record with that Of other Princes
of Wales and OF other heirs 10 thrones 10 a
splendid vindication of his loyalty, his patriot
ism and. may add, his craftsmanship. 1t
has been the general rule for the heir to a
throne TO be either openly or secretly the leader
of the Opposition. We do not mean the Parlia-
mentary Opposition. but a court circle OF OppO-
sition far more mischievOus. In more than one
European monarchy within the memory of living
men the heir apparent has been at the head of
what was almost rival court and has long
been in sem-estrangement from his sovereign.
In the case Of him who was yesterday the
Prince OF Wales and is to-day the King of Eng
land there has never been n suspicion of the
sort or ground for one. He has scrupulously
refrained from any meddllng in politics. but so
far as he has been identified with public affairs
It has been as an affectionate son of his mother
and devotedly loyal, sagacious and helpful sub
ject of the Queen. He passes now from the
duties of aid 10 those of successor 10 his mother
without far, and with the well-earned conf
dence that nearly sixty years close observation
OF him has inspired among all classes in the
British Empire.
In the transition from the reign OF Victoria to
that OF her son the Kingdom and Empire
will probably suffer no other than purely per-
sonal change. In a constitutional monarchy the
personality of the monarch may weigh less
than that Of the President in a republic. The
King will govern through his Ministers and Par
lament, and these are selected for him by the
people, and Will therefore remain substantially
the same under the King as they have been
under the Queen. The international standing
and relationships of the realm will also remain
unchanged. The personal prestige of the British
Crown will not be impaired. For the King
though the newest sovereign in Europe IS the
senior OF many, and especially of those with
whom he will most come into contact. He Is
the uncle Of the German and Russian Emperors
and the senior Of the sOvereigns OF Italy Spain
Portugal and the Netherlands. There is there
fore no fear of his not maintaining with ease
the distinguished rank of Great Britain among
the sOvereignties Of the world. He is, moreover
blessed with the companionshp of Queen who
commands the love of the people and the esteem
of all the world In a measure well comparable
with that Of his lamented mother. Her presence
will assure for his Court a degree of purity and
grace not unlike that which for more than sixty
years has prevailed there and has given the
British Court an honorable pre-eminence. Thus
beginning his reign at time when the British
Empire is greater and more powerful than ever
before, and when there is an ausplcous outlook
for the continuance of its prosperity Albert
Edward may well enjoy the sincere good
wishes of all men and hear no false note in
the popular acclaim of Long live the King"