New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-03
KING EDWARDS TACT.
Gradually Recovering the Former
PrerOgatiUes of the Cro1cn.

1t is difficult 10 refrain from admiring the tact
with which Edward WI is quietly and unobtrusive-
ly recovering the prerosatives Of the crown which
his predecessors the throne had for one reason
another permitted to lapse l am led 20 make
this remark by the Kings responsibility for the
restoration to liberty Of Colonel Lynch OF the Boer
Army last week.
Mercy and clemency have Away. been the pre-
rogative of the executive. whether the latter be
monarch. president Of a republic. the gov
ernor OF an autonomous State. Until the accession
Of Queen Victoria, the sovereign in England signed
all death warrants. In those days capital punish
ment was inflicted. not merely for murder, but
likewise for a number Of other felonies. of
which do not bear description in print. When Vic
toria became Queen as an eighteen ar-old girl.
it was felt that it would be impossible to expect
her to deal with offences Of this kind. since IL
would have the effect of bringing TO her knowledge
matters that every man with any sense Of deli
cacy would make point OF keeping from the
knowledge of mis- daughters. Consequently. Lord
Melbourne. who merely her Premier, out
likewise her mentor and whose sentiments toward
her were not only those OF a minister toward his
sovereign but also of a father toward his daugh-
ter, arranged that death warrants should
longer be submitted for signature to the monarch.
but TO the Secretary of State for the Home Depart
ment. TO whom was. In natural consequence there
Of confded the duty OF exercising clemency in the
name Of the Crown whenever he considered II 70
be necessary.
OF course, by and by. when the English code OF
ed 10 the punishment OF murder and OF high trea-
the for the transfer OF this prerogative
Of pardon from the sovereign to the Secretary Of
State for the Home Department disappeared. But
Queen Victoria never made any attempt 10 resume
her prerogative. which. consequently. left in
allegiance until King Edward made the first step
toward resuming It last year when in Ireland. 1t
may be remembered that he. at the request of the
Queen, pardoned the OF old peasant widow
whose cottage their maJesties had visited. and
who had appealed to them for cemency for her
boy. There some talk in the press about the
Kings rights in the matter. which were ques-
toned. But popular sentiment clearly IN
favor of the sovereign that all criticism
dropped
In the case OF Colonel Lynch the King has gone
about the matter in a more clever and diplomatic
manner. IL seems that he summoned the Secretary
OF State for the Home Department to his pres
ence. and intimated TO him his command that
Colonel Lynch should be set liberty. That is to
say, the actual order OF release was signed and
given by the Cabinet Minister who acted. how
ever, I'm the affair under the orders OF the King.
which he had alternative but obey, since Glenn
ency is consttutionally pre-ogatve. not Of Par
lament, but OF the Crown. or course, the King
could have issued commands direct pa-dOning or
releasing Lynch. But by doing IT through the Sec
rotary OF State for the Home Department he practi
cally silences any questions which may be raised
in the legislature by carping critics the con-
stitutionality Of his act