Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-01-31

else a positive influence. By precept
and example, by her eminent qualities
of good sense and kindness, by her
strength of character and her love Of
peace, she has done much to make the ma
ton great and to secure the advancement
of the world at large.
1t is a noteworthy fact that while the
changing conditions since she was crown
ed in 1887 have tended to reduce greatly
the specific powers Of sovereignty she
has accepted the natural trend of events
with equanimity, steadily gaining in es-
TEEN and affection as the years passed.
Never has she been more sincerely re-
vered and loved than during the decade
just closed; never has the quiet force of
her influence been more generally recog-
nized. The whole period embraced in the
Victorian era has been the period Of
Great Britain's greatest imperial deyel-
opment. The statesmen who were her
advisers when she came to the throne, a
girl of IS, seem now to have belonged to
an entirely different epoch, so great has
been the change in the political world
and in the currents and tendencies of in
tellectual life. In all this process of
growth Victoria has exercised a whole
some if passive, influence. She has met
new burdens and homo with dignity;
she has kept before the British public
high ideals of principle and conduct and
If the political growth and material pros
perity of England are not directly trace
able to her, her essential goodness and
her well-poised character have at least
done much to maintain tie sentiments of
confidence and patriotism which tend
most to make for a nations happiness.
The change of rulers necessitated by
the death of the Queen comes at time
when the empire is beset with dangers
and difficulties. After an era which Is
destined to be as distinctive in British
history as the era of Elizabeth, it was
Victoria's fate to see the British empire
embarrassed by war and apparently los
ing its primacy among the nations of the
earth Whether it has not actually pass
ed the climax Of its greatness and ia
now on the point of retrograde move
ment is question yet to be determined
The circumstances under which Albert
Edward assumes the sovereign power as
Ing Edward VII. are therefore peculiarly
trying but thoughtful observers will be
slow to conclude that as king he will
fail to satisfy the needs and expecta-
tions of the British people. However
England may have looked upon its heir
apparent twenty years ago, in the recent
years during which he has been called
upon to perform most OF the public md
ceremonial functions of the monarch. act
ing as Victoria's representative, he has
shown dignity and discretion. His reign
in all probability will be comparatively
brief, but there is good reason to believe
that he will be guided by safe and sober
conservatism and will be popular mon
arch.
Nobody will ever speak of Victoria the
Great" but her virtues have given her
q right to better tite-'.Victoria the
Well-Beloved.' And in earning that
name she has rendered the best possible
service to the English monarchy. In
stronger grasp the frail scepter might
have snapped-her soft hand held it safe.
Victoria saw England become in all es-
sentials republic. It was because the
monarch had ceased to govern that she
continued to reign, and that her people
watched at her deathbed with sorrow
as keen as IL personal Bereavement
wers impending over every family.