Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-01-31
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
UMBER 26

events of English history and is pre-
eminently an English name. The great
est of all the Edwards, the Black
Prince, never became king at ALL On
the other hand, Albert is German
name. 1t is somewhat less than 200
years since the house of Brunswick
came to the throne. If Albert Ed
ward wanted to select a name out Of
all his predecessors that would fit his
character the best, he would call him
self Charles III, for up to date he bears
more resemblance to that merry mon
arch, Charles II, than to any other
that ever sat upon the English throne.
My guess is that he will be the most
popular king England ever had, simply
because he has sense enough to know
that he is not king at all, but mere
figurehead. 1t is lucky for him and his
posterity that he looks at the matter in
that way, for if he took the view of it
that his great grandfather, George III,
did he probably would share the fate
Of Charles | or James II. 1t is rather
a strange historical coincidence that
the formation of the Australian COM
monwealth, which is practically re-
public. and the death of Victoria should
be almost synchronous.
Queen yictoria's popularity rested on
two facts. First, that she was good
woman not better than thousands of
others, but nevertheless a good woman
and discharged with fidelity her du
ties as daughter, wife, mother. The
second fact is that she did not attempt
to interfere with the growth of the
democratic idea She recognized the
inevitable and bowed to it. During
her long reign, by reason of the various
reform acts passed, suffrage has been
extended to an almost universal male
basis, and in some respects the British
government is a more representative
government than that of the United
, States. That she was bitterly opposed
to the Boer war is we'll known and is
greatly to her credit. That she did not
prevent it, as she would like to have
done, shows what a mere figurehead
is the occupant Of the British throne.
The chances are that her death will
make that infamous war more unpopu-
lar than ever, and it may be that some
great power will pluck up the courage
| to intervene in the interest of humani-
| ty. If Albert Edward, or Edward the
| VII, or Albert l, or whatever he
chooses to call himself, wants to inn
mortalize his name and reign, the best
thing he could do would be to stop the
war and grant local self government
l 10 To -
/ risk by undertaking either one of these
/ things at any time, but less risk now
! than hereafter, because attempting it
now he would be largely aided by the
tender feeling awakened by the death
of his mother. But even if he should
fail in the attempt it is better to have
attempted good deed and failed than
to have not attempted it at all.
Popular Election of Senator's.
/ The deadlocks now on i'll several Leg
islatures for the election of United
i States senators, together with the ru-
mors Of scandals emanating from ey~.
i cry state capital where there is dead
i lock. constitute an irreyocable argu-
= 2. s.ssss ~ :sss4 s.11;l4
4 tors by direct popular votes.stss.nf lslouees
!. er that all elections are brougn. :, de
great body of the people the better the
country is off. Notwithstanding the
unceasing howl Of pessimists to the
contrary, the people can be trusted.
The Hon. David Wallace has intro
duced a resolution in the Missouri leg
islature asking congress to submit an
f,N o1
senators by popular vote. First and
last the legislatures of thirty odd states
i have taken action ON this matter, all
fayoring it. That this idea has not
been crystallized into law is an amaz-
ing illustration of Wis inertia in poll
tics.