The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-01-23


time when she began her reign. There
was far more republican sentiment in
England ii 1897 than there IL in 1901.
The effects OF the French revolution. OF
1898 we're still vivid in memory. The
reform bin had ipst passed in the teeth
Of bitter, even violent, opposition, and
EnglishmeD-the middle and lower
clasees-were bent on securing still
larger liberties. Victoria came of an un-
popular family, her virtues were un-
known, her subjects were filled with
distrust. Speedily she won their affec-
tions and the fact that she became the
most popular individual in her enorm-
GUS empire, and remains such till the
day Of her death, never encountering
serious trouble either with her governs
ment or her people--this fact marks
Victoria as one Of the worlds most ex.
traordinary personages.
Lacking in political acumen Victoria
may have been. She bad not the
shrewdness of Talleyrand, the willing
ness Of Metternich, the penetration of
a Napoleon, But hers was the best of
policies, that of honesty She dared DO
risht--who daree do more is none, The
first minister of her reign urged her
to sign doument ON the ground Of Eek
pediency." Gently but firmly the queen
said have been taught to Judge be-
tween what is right and what is wrong,
but expediency is word wish neither
to hear nor to understand" In her
advanced age she did not possess the
clarity of vision that marked her prime,
she was more easily influenced by her
ministers, apparently she sometimes
assented to proposals which in her more
vigorous years she would have COM
bated. We cannot help thinking that
had she not been enfeebed in body and
in mind she would opposed tine Trans.
vaal war with all the powers at her
command.
Assuredly Victoria was lover of
peace. One act she did which makes
her memory forever dear to Americans,
When Slidell and Mason, the confeder-
ate ambassadors on the Trent, were
seized by Captain Wilkes, almost all
aristocratic England burst into flame
of rage. Lord Palmerston was hot for |
war Most of the nobility sided with |
the South. Even Gladstone made no |
attempt t. conceal his desire that the
confederacy should be established.
Troops were ordered TO Canada by the
British ministry. War vessels were
prepared. A dispatch was
dictated to the United States which
meant nothing less than war. A single
nsolent word meant monstrous con
lagration. Napoleon III was insanely
lager for war with the United States.
md France would have promptly fol.
owed Englauds lead. This meant, in
III probability, the ruin of our splendid
Republic. And Il was the act OF Vic.
oria that averted the tremendous
alamity The insulting dispatch of
ord Palmerstou was so modified as TO
i've the United States an opportunity
o correct its error. Peace with honor
vas made possible. The American
government was left free T. cope with
he secessionists, the rebellion was
rushed, the union was preserved. Let
10 American ever forget that in his
Iation's hour of gravest peril, Victoria
TODD it's firm and steadfast friend
nd that save for that friendship, the
onfederacy, in all human probability,
'ould have triumphed, the North
'ould have been humbled sacked and
impoverished, the United States as
lch would have been ruined forever.
Another conspicuous instance OF Vic.
'ria's desire for peace is seen in her
tercession with Emperor William in
'half OF France, whereby a second at.
ok on that unfortunate country was
'erted, albeit this intercession incur
d her the lasting and bitter enmity Of
'ince Bismarck. =