New-York tribune., 1902-06-29
THE KINGS PROGRESS.

1t had been planned that on each of two days
last week there should be a royal progress-to
use the quaint old phrase-by King Edward
through the chief thoroughfares of his capital
Preparations therefor had been made by court
and by populace, upon an unprecedentedly mag
nificent scale. Then suddenly all such plans
were abandoned. There was such surprise
and there was such a disappointment as
nation had seldom if ever known before. In
stead of moving in state before admlrlng
myriads the King was sent into close seclusion,
leaving his subjects to wait outside in anxious
silence for tidngs Of life or death.
We may now happily believe that the tidings
are Of life and health The King is making
progress. It is not progress through the be-
decked and roaring streets of London. 1t is
something better than that. 1t is steady ana
substantial progress away from the shadow OF
death toward the light Of life and of restored
health and strength. That is better progress
than the other which had TO be for the time
abandoned 1t is one for which his people will
be profoundly grateful with gratitude even
greater than their admiration and acclamatlon
would have been had the original plan Of a
roval progress been fulfilled. 1t is regarded by
this nation, too. and by all the world, With
pleasure and with thankfulness.
There have been many reports concerning the
Kings condition. some of which have not been
iudicious. There have been pessimistc fore
bodings and even direct statements OF peril and
despair for which there was no apparent foun-
dation In fact. There have also been some wild
flights Of optimistic e1ultation, which it would
have been gratifying to accept as well inspired
but for which at the time it was impossible to
discover adequate authority To say. as some
did that ali hope was absolutely abandoned or
to picture as others did. the King as resumlng
his normal occupations and habits of life only
a few hours after the operation, was altogether
unwarranted and extravagant-
The fact Is that in such case as this there
is no such thing as royal progress. The King
is dealt with by disease and by the healing ART
lust as any other mortal would be, and his
condition and progress are to be judged by just
such ordinary rules. He was not exempt from
disease because of his kingship, and neither
was he doomed. Now, the fact is. as we have
hitherto pointed out, that the case from medi-
cal and surgical point of view is simple and
ordinary one Thousands of men have been
thus stricken and have been thus operated
upon; and the vast majority OF them nave sur
vived and have recovered their health 1ne
majority of such patients who have been or
age and physical condition similar TO the Kings
have been restored to health. 1t seemed TO US
st the outset therefore. that on the principle or
probab bities the Kings recovery was to be
expected.
Such expectations now seem day by day more
and more justified. The King is making steady
progress 1t would be an error to proclaim MIN
out of all danger. No man who has even the
slightest ailment is out Of danger. The draw
ing of tooth the pairing of corn, the exTac-
ton of splinter from the hand, may be at
tended with fatal results. What is to be said
with unhesitating confidence is this: that the
King has been making steady progress toward
health; that such progress continues at the
present time unchecked; that there is no per
ceptible menace that it will be checked; that II
if is not checked by some now unforeseen oo-
sta Gle or disaster it will lead to complete res
toration of health, and that every hour OF con-
tinued progress reduces the danger and the
possibility Of such check. To this we may
add that the Kings physicians appear to have
acted throughout with exceptional Judgment
and sincerity, having made no mistake In their
management of their patient, and having not
deceived the public concerning him In the
slightest degree either by commission or by
omission.
1t is fitting that our earnest wishes and
prayers for the Kings recovery shall continue I
unabated 1t is also happily fitting that we
shall begin to join with them our congratula-
tions and our reioicings at the auspicous out
look for triumphant ending of the present
steady progress.