The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-26


In the process of transformation two
men had arisen under Numerically op-
posite conditions of life and character
to divide the political empire between
them. They contended for it as gladia-
tors for a prize. William E. Gladstone
was the man of the British bourgeoise,
and Benjamin Disraeh was the beau
ideal of the British landed aristocracy.
The opposing elements in the political
society of the times became concentrat-
ed around the two leaders, and two pol
icies were evolved. The two statesmen
emerged as the commanders of their re-
spective forces as early as the last year
of the Crimean war; The fu -nishing Of
ways and means for the support of the
Gladstone his unvarying policy of reve-
nue. by taxation, while the same crisis
furnished Disraeli his policy of borrow
ing and bonded indebtedness. It was at
this point in British history that the
financial management of the kingdom
diverged into the path prescribed by
Disraeli rather than that indicated by
Gladstone. This course has determined
the subsequent theory and method OF
the British treasury, and. if of that
treasury, then of all the treasures of
the world.
In so far as the queen had a policy,
she and the prince favored the methods
Of Disraeli, and all the landed aristo-
Gratis of Great Britain followed in the
wake. There were other reasons why
Disraeh was preferred and Gladstone
rejected by British royalty. In this
case was again fulfilled the saying.
Jacob have loved, and Esau have
hated" only Esau was now a gentle.
a man of the merchants and manufac-
turers of Lancashire.
Her majesty could never be reconciled
to Gladstone and his methods. There
was something in the life and charac-
ter of the man that displeased her His
later liberalism was a mortal offense.
Never did she willingly accept him as
prime minister or in any Office what
soever. 1t was said that toward the con-
clusion of his public career she would
raise him to the peerage. Whether this
was true we know not. The tradition
of it got abroad, but we think the say
ing doubtful. On the other hand, the
insinuating, casuistical profoundly
aristocratic and almost humbly loyal
DisraeH became, as it were, a part Of
her majesty's personal treasure No
other public official during her reign
at least no other after the death of
Wellington-so greatly endeared him
self to the crown When Disraeli over
thrown from the ministry in 1863 got
into his carriage and, glancing at the
" CotICA 0C1O4< 4AkG JOuIACy ~ ACSAE5A
his portfolio into the queens hands,
said, 1T is going to be a rainy day at
Osborne he spoke not only for the
elements. but for her majesty and the
court as well. It was a rainy day for
them as we'll as for him.
AS Victoria grew aged she became
venerable in the esteem of her sub
jects and in the esteem of the world.
In 1887 she reached the jubilee of her
=
with as much enthusiasm as the Brit
ish race can kindle. Two years after
ward the SEVENTEEN anniversary of
her majesty's birth was observed with
affectionate respect Most of her grand
children, "a in number, grew to man
hood and womanhood- For Albert Vic
tor, eldest born of the Prince of Wales,
the beautiful and accomplished Mary
of Teck was chosen as a bride. But the
prince died. and his heartbroken be-
trothed was given to his brother, for
in such manner must the interests OF
the dynasty be fortified. Monarchy has
this method of rolling human hearts,
like red pebbles, under its feet
grandchildren soon began to
smile in the face of the aged empress.
all unconscious of the destinies to
which they had been born. Mary Teck's
man-child and the boy baby of the
British peasant are both alike on the
wave of the universal flow.
The reign of Victoria now reached
out until it surpassed not only the
reigns of her contemporaries, but the
reigns of all kings and queens what
soever in the world. None Of her own
ancestral sovereigns from Alfred the
Great, Henry the Lion and Richard the
Lion Heart had seen from under their
brows the immortal years
wear away as had the illustrious
daughter of the Duke of Kent. The
long relgning sovereigns of the CONT
nent waited in their dusty sarcophagi
to welcome into the realms of silence
the mother dean of all earth's en-
presses and queens. Louis XIV, if we
from 1851, the year of his boy
ish assumption, to the date of his death.
reigned 81 years. but if we count ra-
from his eighteenth birthday.
his reign covered but So years. Henry
VII kept the crown for Sc years The
great Edward eIutched his scepteI' for
so years. The rest are juniors to
these.
Carlyle gives an account Of a certain
Did Jean who came down as a repre-
sentative from the Swiss Alps at the
age of 100 to sit, hated, in the hall Of
the French convention OF 1898. The
historian describes the veteran looking
out from under his withered brows at
scene which he could not comprehend
The empress of India, in the last twi-
light, ready for the going forth in the
shadows, must have sat thus looking
forth. She had in her last moments Of
reason the outlook and vision and the
oack-look of an unequaled retrospect, /
the one necked with patches Of hope
and the other glorified with long years
Of experience. mingled with the exer-
Else of power and gratified ambitions
n such oceanIfke vastness, with invisi-
Die shores and washing tides as no
1ther soul has ever witnessed at its exit
rom this mortal scene
But did she die satisfied Was she
willing to go? Was her hand really
tired of holding the scepter2 Was her
brow really wearied of the crown? II
20, she was perhaps the sole member Of
he human family to be utterly appeas-