New-York tribune., 1901-01-21
PRAYERSIN THE CHURCHES
NO NEW ELECTION TO BE HELD IN
EVENT OF THE QUEENS DEATH.

Copyright; 1901. By The New-York Tribunel
InY CABLE TIE rRIEUSEI
London, Jan. 21. a m.--The public suspense
respecting the Queen remained unbroken yes
terday until late hour. The morning bulletin
announcing that she had passed a restless night
and that her condition continued to cause anxi-
ETY. was posted at the gates of Buckingham and
ST. James palaces, and was read by thousands
during the day. There was a second bulletin at
nightfall. with the intelligence that there was
no change in her symptoms. \ dispatch from
Princess Beatrice was on the bulletin boards of
the clubs. stating that the Queens condition was
still alarming, but that there was ground for
hope.
The news agencies provided details Of the
movement of trains by which the Prince of
Wales was brought to London where he and
the Duke of York could meet the German En-
perOr on his arrival from the coast. and also of
other royal arrivals and departures at Osborne.
London forced to content itself with these
meagre details Of the critical stage of the
Queens health The most encouraging infer
ence which could be drawn was that the Prince
Of Wales would not have come to London to meet
the German Emperor. and that the Emperor
would not have remained at Buckingham Palace
overnight if the Queen had been in Immediate
danger of death. The public was not. however.
in possession of precise Information respecting
:
even certain whether she was conscious or un-
conscious The services at ST. Paurs Westmn-
stcr Abbey and other Anglican churches were
most impressive. The Psalter for the day was
! most appropriate for time of national sus-
pense. and from every pulpit references were
| made to the Queens critical condition. In many
| Established churches the Dead March from
4 saul was played at the close of the service in
memory of the Bishop of London, and this was
followed in some instances by God Save the
Queen" There were prayers in every Noncon-
formist church for the Queen. and no preacher
neglected to refer to the anxiety of the nation
and the virtues of the beloved sovereign Lon
don is always the quietest capital in the world
on Sunday Yesterday there was almost a rev.
erent silence in the streets.
The latest bulletin from Osborne is disquiet-
ing in the extreme. and gives the British people
but faint hope that the life of their beloved
sovereign will be spared.
From all parts of the world sympathetic tele-
grams published this morning. Never. per-
haps. in the history of mankind has the life of
a single human being formed the subject of
more deeply earnest soHcitude, Of more genuine
and widespread concern The Queen of Eng
land has, indeed. been the greatest personal
force Of modern times, but never before has the
fact been clearly demonstrated
a painful misunderstanding which occurred
yesterday through the stupidity of the authori-
ties of Scotland Yard has caused considerable
annoyance. A telegram addressed TO the Chief
Commissioner of Police was opened in his ab-
sence by some minor official. who interpreted it
to mean that the Queen was dead An an
nouncement to that effect was accordingly sent
10 all the police stations of the metropolis with
the result that in many districts bells were
toIIed and from more than one church spire
the national flag was floating at halfmast-
The German Emperor and the Prince of Wales
leave London for Osborne at o'clock this
morning
When William " died it was necessary to
summon new Parliament the accession OF
Queen Victoria and Lord Melbourne ordered a
general election. The Queens first Parliament
went to Westminster with fresh mandate from
the people. A Treasury official informs me that
this is no longer requirement of the existing
statutes and that the opening of rev reign
will not involve the necessity for general eIec-
ton This is fortunate for the Salisbury Gov
ernment as II has larger majority in the ar
lament elected last autumn than it could
pect from a fresh appeal to the country. Par
lament stands adjourned to definite date. and
it's second meeting will be virtually continua-
ton of the session already begun. although it
will naturally be opened by a speech from the
throne.
The Victorian reign has been a period Of un-
broken constitutional practice. and all old time
questions Of royal prerogative and ParIiamen-
tary privilege have been settled a revival OF
the disturbing controversies Of the Georgian
period is impossible. The precedents for a re-
gency may not be easily adapted TO existing
conditions but the opening of new reign will
be regulated by we'll defined constitutional prac-
tice When the accession of the Queen occurred
it was necessary for Archbishop HOwley and
the Lord Chamberlain to drive from Windsor to
KensingtOn Palace and TO inform the young
Princess of the Kings death. The Prime Min
lister was summoned and privy council
held the same morning at KensingtOn Palace.
the Lord Chancellor administering the usual
oaths to T. new sovereign, who received in her
turn the Oaths of allegiance of the members OF
the Cabinet and the OF er members Of the Coun-
Gil Precedent takes the place of law to large
extent in England, and what happened in 1887
is likely 10 be repeated at Osborne with few
variations. The Pri- Minister and the Home
Secretary already there. and meeting Of
! AVOID GRIP.
! Disinfect your premises with Platts Cnlorides.-