The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-08
Browning of King Edward,
BY JOHN p. FOLEY.

From a monarchicsa point of view, the most important evont in this second year ns the new century will be the coronation of Edward VII. King of Great Britain and Ireland. Defender ot the Faith ana Emperor of India. Tho British Domin- Ions beyond tho Seas also fit somewhere lnto the official title of this fortunate po- tentate, who unlike the majority Of his predecessors. has few or none Of the re- aponsibllities of government, and at the same time, holds one of the most exalted offices in the world. Before hirn. as ruler knecl more millions of human beings, in- habitinR more varied climes, speaking more diverse languages. worshippng at more numerous shrines. than ever before knelt to mortal man. His ships Of war are on every sea; the reveille of his pu- gles. the morning beat of his drums sweep around the globe from continent to continent through fortress guarded islands in all the oceans Under the Tar northern star, and deep down below the the southern cross. are his territories to be found in the centres of civilization and in the jungles of barbarism. In the regions of almost eternal ice. and in those of perpetual sunshine. In one the snow never departs in the other 1t Is never seen. That so vast portion of the earth,s surface should be under the sway of a little speck of land which lacks the productive power to supply food TOT us own population during more than few months at the utmost. is one Of the mar ,.els of human government, or from an- other point of view, misgovernment. All these vast acquisitions are the result or more than thousand years Of strenu- ous. persistent action. Countless genera lions have toiled thought. fought, died to build up this mighty fabric In com parison with which Rome with all It's yassal provinces was but In area, what a modern ducal estate Is to one of the three geographical divisions of Great Brit ain.
 Not astonishing, or matter for surprise. therefore is 1t that majority Of the English people should tenaciously cling to institutions, hold fast to precedents and preserve traditions under the oper- ation and in the pursuance of which so magnificent a sovereignty has been won, 80 much power and prestige, and what Is called glory achieved. The foundations or them all were laid in the morning Of their history as race and nation. Ihey are typihed in some of the most splendid monuments and works of art that mar
 
 and hallowed by the highest and hum blest teachers of spiritual truth. Ano above all they sink as deep into the loyal English heart as do the vaunted English oaks strike down their roots into the gen. erous English soil As the one resists the lightning and the gale so does this spirit of national reverence for the past, proud ly and sternly hold It's ground against change and innovation. and refuse to be moved from it's moorings. While we may not sympathze with the outward mani- fest ation of this adherence to forms and symbols that centuries ago meant some thing. and now really mean nothing, we can at least tolerate their observance and perhaps point a. moral from 1t. Hu- man sentiment is the child of human en- vironment. and no one may wholly escape from its influence. National chstacteris- tics are as distinctly marked as are the configura tions of countries and contt- nents. That which gives the keenest de light in one place excites horror some where else. An object of reverence In one nation becomes a source of rdicule the minute it's boundary line is crossed.
 In this light the great majority of us have been reading for months past of the preparations which are being made for the crowning of the Seventh Edward. It Is almost incomprehensible to us that so practical great and enlightened a people WnO With OOrSclNfS are Tn the van or the most advanced line of progress. should be turning back the hands on the clock three tour centuries, and drag ging into the electric light of this age the grotesque and tawdry imperial trap pings. which were in fashion one thou sand years ago. Why, we have been mem tally asking. cannot our brethren of Eng land dispense with this comic-opera cer- emonial? What Is the use of 1t? The
 
 forming the part he inherited for many months. and, after all that is said and done in the historic Abbey, he will be no more of a ruler than he Is now. With not a particle more of authority will he be invested after the most reverend lords spiritual have prayed for him. preached at him, and given him here and there a dash of holy oil The prostration of the lords temporal and the imprint of the kisses of their aristocratic. If not very attractive lips, on the royal cheeks will