The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
ENGLAND's NEW SOVEREIGN.
A Review of Qualities the Present
Monarch Possesses.


| What are the qualifications which the
| King brings to his arduous task?
! The first quality that the King brings TO
| the fulfilling of his great functions as a
| constitutional sovereign is courage, NOR
al, and physical. Like all his race, he is
| n man of stout heart, and we may be
sure that he will not in public affairs
quail or encourage timorous counsels in
his ministers.
Next, he possesses a very remarkable
knowledge of public affairs. He is on all
! political questions, both at home and
| abroad, extremely well informed. and we
! doubt if there is any man alive who I'M
| derstands ordinary English public opin-
| ion better than he does. As Prince of
| Wales he had opportunities for studying
its nature which are withheld from the
| sovereign, and we do not doubt that the
| lessons thus learned will stand him in
/ good stead.
| Beyond this knowledge he has the in
| stinctive gift Of tact-the power TO do and
say the right thing at the right moment,
/ and to look forward and prevent the oc-
I currence of unnecessary friction and an
noyance. II the history of the last twenty
I or thirty years could be fully told 1t
would be found that on countless occas-
/ ions q timely warning from the Prince Of
/ Wales prevented the occurrence of those
perpleXing and disagreeable situations
and incidents which arise from the neg.
/ lect of tactfulneSS.
! Next. the King is an excellent Judge of
men. AS regards the public men with
whom ne has come in contact he has
shown this quality again and again, and
his advice in regard to appointments has
often proved most useful. One reason for
this is that he knows the English world
remarkably well. and he has always made
point of keeping himself informed about
the record and qualifications of persons
who have either attained eminence or are
likeIy to attain it. If a name were chosen
at random among the men of mark in
the nation, it is safe to say that the King
would be more likely to know something
h
my other person who can be named not
specially related to the man in question
that is not belonging to his profession or
knowing him personally.
! Again, the King has a ripe memory and
/ Il great faculty for putting men at their
| ease. Hence in all personal negotiations
he has proved himself a concilfatory force.
BY universal consent better chairman
of a committee is not to be found in the
three kingdoms. He has shown ability
to keep to the business in hand without
coercing the minority, wounding the feel
ings of the garrulous or preventing the
expression of helpful as opposed to OBJ
structive criticism.
But these qualities are exactly those
which are most useful in constitutional
King. The Queen has fixed once and for
ever the position and functions of the SOW
ereign in our crowned republic and great
and important and splendid those func-
lions are. The Queen. to use metaphor,
( made herself the Permanent Under Sec
rotary to the nation. She was the power
behind the Prime Minister which never
changed. In our view the King will be
able to carry on the most essential work
of criticsing his ministers with success,
for he has just the abilities which are re-
quired. He is a man Of the world; he has
Judgment, tact. and common sense; he has
a great knowledge of men. and he hates
laundering and muddling. Hence we may
expect from him that tactful vigilance
which is needed however able may be the
Kings Ministers. and however much they
may be devoted to their duties. But OF
one thing we may be sure. The King will
not be wanting i'm the truest and sincerest
patriotism. There he may be absolutely
trusted and the nation may rely without
misgiving on mis- whole-hearted devotion to
his country. Not even the Queen herself
same may be said of the new Queen
Queen Alexandra. She long ago won the
love and esteem of the country, and they
may hail in her true English woman.