New-York tribune., 1901-07-21
Tp TO DATE RULERS.
.,,,rFpING REFORMS INSTITUTED BY
EDWARD VII, BY THE KAISER
AND BY ITALY'S KING.


situation. and it ends by his being forced
.o,,ow more or less reluctantly In the wake
nc subjects in a manner calculated to i'm
=. the prestige of his throne, whereas If he is
ps,,sntly wide awake and up to date TO insti-
.be changes himself he remains In the fore
49,. NJ his people, who are content to submit to
bis guidance o"ihs 10 i'S oeiiie oi progressive
character.
rsis initiation Of reforms by the anointed Of
8. rord is one Of the most interesting signs OF
=. Zines in the past, revolutions were needed
. brng about reforms Of popular character
.dav II is the kings themselves who have be-
,,,oe revolutionary and who propose changes Of
a. sweeping a character Sc to positively take
quay the breath OF the more conservative and
,s fashioned Of their lieges. Yet the fact that
.bsse reforms are popular with the nation at
,s-ee especially with the masses, shows that the
,onsrch is In touch with his people. that he Is
,Asnlv sensible to the latter's interests and
,boye all that a closer bond Of sympathy and
rnserstandng exists between the people and
tirsef than was the case IN the reigns Of his
predecessors.
throughout the greater part OF the century
which has just to a close the crown ap-
,esred unable to appreciate either popular needs
NJ popular aspirations and IN consequence there
of the monarchical system appeared TO be
doomed and about TO be swept away by the
eyer rising tide Of democracy. Now, however, at
.be beginning of the twentieth century, the situ-
slou is entirely altered. Rulers have launched
tbsir ship upon the high tide OF the democratic
sec have tackled TO the popular windward,
and are in consequence more firmly established
on their thrones than any Of their predecessors.
One has only 70 compare the place which EN-
ueror William holds in the hearts and the every
cay life OF his people with that occupied by his
grandfather and granduncle, the universal re-
snect and regard inspired by King Victor EN-
manuel with the public Indifference manifested
IN Italy toward his father. the i'll fated King
Humbert, and the good viii and admiration
aroused by King Edward as compared with the
extraordinary unpopularity Of the crown not
alone in the times of the last three Georges and
Of King William. but likewise IN the first twenty
or thirty years of the reign Of Queen Victoria.
KAIsER,s INFLUENCE ON GERMAN LIFE.
In course OF the dozen years or so that EN-
peror William has been on the throne he has
effected the complete reorganization Of the Ger
man army-this. too, in the face Of all kinds Of
opposition On the part OF veterans. who objected
10 innovations-and he has converted II into what
is universally acknowledged TO be the most per-
world. In the same way he has entirely trans
formed the civil administration Of the Prussian
Kingdom, and also OF the empire. while he has
endowed both one and the other with
areIy new and modern code of laws. IN keeping
with modern times, IN lieu of the antiquated and
semi-mediaeval system of Jurisprudence that was
h existence when he came to the throne. Be
ades this he has reorganized and created afresh
the navy has secured provision for the old age
and injury Of workingnen, and for their widows
and young children In the event OF the latter be-
coming fatherfess. by means Of State aided in
surance: has initiated all sorts Of other legisla
don for the benefit Of the leboring masses, and
has by degrees transformed himself TO such an
extent into the predominant factor IN every
phase OF German life and even thought that he
conveys the impression of being the mainspring
Of the huge German Empire. and that II any
thing untoward were 20 happen to hinl-that is.
Il the handspring We're to break-the whole ma
chinery would stop.
Young Victor Emmanuel is the point Of
completing the first year CT reign that was
begun by tragedy namely. the anarchist as
sassination Of a father to whom he devoted.
He began by sternly refusing TO resort TO ex-
ceptional measures for the suppression OF anar-
chy. the movement which had robbed him Of his
adequate for all purposes, and that Italy must
Under all circumstances remain a free country
He has proclaimed through the ministers In Par
lament his acknowledgment of the usefulness Of
workmen's syndicates as well CT the fact
that the organization Of the working classes into
unions is the best way of protecting the prole-
tarfate, while thanks to him, the legality of
strikes is recognized by government and
by law
What this means viii be when It is stat
Cd that in the last twelve months there have
been six hundred strikes in Italy. in which six
hundred thousand men have been engaged at
one time another. and which have resulted in
the total annual increase of 4S.000000 francs
telose upon $1,000 900 in the wages of the
Eorsiagmen. The young King has likewise in
sututed order of knighthood devoted TO the
recognition OF the working classes and TO the
reward Of those contributing TO the welfare OF
the iaboring masses. and at present he is en-
gagged in devising schemes for the modification
o' the fiscal system so TO tighten the burdens
OF taxation upon the masses through placing a
'airer share Of the weight upon the shoulders
o. the well TO Go classes.
WHAT is SAID OF ITALY's KING.
These are only few Of the measures which
he young King has instituted for the benefit
VI the masses Of his subjects in the twelve
months that he has been on the throne Of Italy.
measures which ii is needless to state have been
strongly opposed by the classes who have given
s.Hf young monarch the same nickname of
"A'eh Frederick the Great used 10 be SO proud,
naheiy that of "Roi des Gueux" (King of the
sinps and Of the Ragged). How wise and
soAuc ne has been in all this is demonstrated
Nne TACT that in the last three months the
'er OF anti-monarchists IN the Parliament
N0ihe has been diminished IN notable de-
~hie their leader, Signor Sacchi has been