The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-01-23

the political growth and material pros
pcdiy Of England are not directly
traceable TO her, her essential good.
ness and her well.poised character
have at least done much to maintain
the sentiments Of confidence and
patriotism which tend most to make
for a nations happiness.
It has been entirely IN keeping with
victoria's character that she should
have been a consistent friend Of peace.
e can never be forgotten by Ameri-
cans that her influence sved the Uni
1ed States at critical time from a
serious break with England With
ministry which, like most OF the cahl.
nets OF Europe. was openly antagon-
istic to the north. Victoria stood al
most alone IN befriending this govern
ment Il was her oun peremptory
protest that prevented her prime min
lister from taking the step which might
have precipitated war It was in such
occurrences as these that Victoria dis
closed the moral courage and the de.
termination with which she was
capable Of acting when she deemed
action necessary, and It Is the posses
sion Of those attributes, no doubt, to
which in large degree is due her
unique position among the rulers Of
the world. No monarch in Europe.
probably is more hedged around with
limitations than the ruler OF England,
no sovereign now living can com
mand either the unquestionlng conf
deuce or the respect freely accorded
to Victoria
The change of rulers necessitated
by the falling strength Of the queen
comes at time whom the empire is
beset with dangers and difficulties.
After an era which IS destined 20 be
as distinctive in British history as the
era Of Elizabeth. It has been Victorias
fate to see the British empire embar-
rassed by war and apparently losing
its primacy among the nations of the
earth. Whether IL has not actually
passed the climax OF it's greatness and
Is now on the point Of a retrograde
movement is a question yet to be de-
ltermined The circumstances under
which Albert Edward win assume the
sovereign power, either as prince re-
gent or as King Edward VII, are there
fore peculiarly trying. but thoughtful
observers will be slow to conclude that
as king or regent he will fail TO satisfy
the needs and expectations of the
British people The strong bonds of
sentiment and personal affection
which bound British subjects to their
queen, especially in the colonies. were
powerful factor in unifying the en-
pire But her Oldest son has an
enormous personal popularity both in
England and among Englishmen who
have migrated to British dependencies
and he is endowed with tact to re-
markable degree. However England
may have looked upon it's heir appar-
cnt twenty years ago, in the recent
years during which he has been called
upon to perform most Of the public
and ceremonial functions Of the mon
arch. acting as yictoria's representa-
tive he has shown dignity and dis.
icretion His reign In all probability
will be comparatively brief, but there
Is good reason to believe that he viii
be guided by safe and sober conserva-
tism and will be a highly popular mon
arch. II the present Threatened
lohange IN Great Bri.ain's political and
commercial status is going to make
new plans and policies necessary,
moreover he viii have an advantage
in the fact that he is not too old to
become reconciled to changes or to
help IN putting them into effect.
AT the outset of his reign he viii
find on every hand impressive illvstra-
tions Of the power and usefulness Of
the British sovereign who rules as
Victoria ruled-with honesty OF pur-
pose largeness OF heart and ar un-
wavering love of her subjects