The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-26
SATISFIED WITH THEIR KING.
BRTTISH APPROVE EDWARD WIS
FIRST YEAR As RULER.
Has Maintained Queen victoria's Recon-
ctiiation OF Democracy and Empire'
Mot Exactly q Fgurehead. but He
Hal Kept strictly within the Limita-
lions of His Royal Prerogatives.
Special Gable Ds,paies 10 THE SUN.

opN'sef tNVe' NeNAfNF ~ N SUN
LONDON, Jan. 25.---One year Of King
Edward Is a subject much discussed both
publicly and privately on the occasion of
this weeks melancholy anniversary. 1t Is
somewhat curious that the chief note of
comment Ia one Of thankfulness that the
King has maintained what Queen Victoria
established. the reconciliation Of Democ-
racy and Empire"
e To use the words of the loyal Spectator
1T would be unjust to say that there Is any
surprise In the public mind that the King
should have confined himself 40 strictly
within the limitations of his royal pre-
negatives. which his predecessor 50 scrupu-
lously observed. II is perfectly true that
the King has not manifested the slightest
disposition TO usurp any power or au-
thority outside OF the scope of Queen Vic
toria's well-known policy. His subjects
grateful acknowledgement Of his restraint
signifies nothing more than the inherent
English jealousy Of popular liberties. coup
led with the strangeness to the present
generation Of the functions connected with
the demise Of the Crown"
The average Englishman. however, likes
to be told, as the Spectator to-day reminds
him, hat 'the Sovereign Of that royal re-
public, the British Empire, does not hold
within his hands such powers Of produc-
ing rapidly colossal results for good or
evil-especially evil-as are attached to the
headships Of the Russian and German
empires. or even 10 the Presidency of the
United States. By obstinate adherence
with the full force of his authority to any
single false initiative any one OF those
~potentates could almost at any moment
plunge not only his own country, but the
whole world into calamities which co uld
not be repaired In generations. IL is not
so with the British monarchy. Our system
checks and balances N makes It practi-
cally impossible that n immediate and
irrevocable determination Of worldwide
issues should rest with any individual.
however masterful; and II any exception
should be made to thiso observation it would
not relate to any conceivable occupant Of
the throne
1t should not be inferred from either
OF these comments that King Edward has
been a mere fgurehead OF the British En-
pire for the past year. 1t is a very practical
truth that Lord S~alisbury's Ministry has
had 20 reckon with the King on manga
matter of important Government policy.
IL Is no secret tnit MS MAJESTY hlTtuIOusly
desires early peace in South Africa This
does not imply. of course, any sympathy
with the so -called pro-Boer party or any
wish to make concessions which his country
would regard as humiliating or which would
interfere with the policy of an all-British
South Africa. Two months ago the King
had hopes that the war might be brought
to a close before the end Of the year. Now
he has considerable confidence. of which
he recently gave public intimation, that
peace is not far of and il Is well-known that
he will be grievously disappointed II fight
ing has not ceased before his coronation.
II y well understood also that his official
relations with Lord Salisbury as the mouth
piece Of the Government will come 10 an
end about that date. II may he added that
this contamination will not be seriously re-
GREETED either by the Sovereign or 10y the
Prime Minister.