The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05

Otn6r DOnu IMAM tne PeIbOHdi union VI '"o
Crown.
Some other reasons are noted for The
enhanced prestige Of royalty In Great
Britain itself. We arc reminded that the
sovereign OF England is not only the head
of the Empire, but also the head OF London
society The importance OF Che latter
position was somewhat obscued through
the retired life led by Queen Victoria for
nearly forty years. Not that any well
informed person. indeed. would underrate
the benefit conferred upon tho British nation
by the Queen and her consort. Prince Albert.
in setting the highest possible standard OF
private and domestic deoorum. Great,
however. IA was the influence OF the Queens
well regulated and exemplary household.
It might have been even more eItensivs
! II the Court had been closely in touch with
the various elements that make up England's
social life. The connection between Lon
don society and the business OF govern
ment "a close and constant Clever or
wealthy men very often go into, Parliament
and aspire TO an influential position there
/ for no other purpose than that they may
make good their footing in the social circle
| to which nearly all the members of the
I House OF Lords and many. OF the members
y IN tDt hOu-S OF commons DtlOnR. vi kul7
circle Court il the natural nd official centre
| Round it the whole social armament re-
wolves. That body OF we'll to do persons
| iii whose luxurious life many millions of
other peoples are Interested IA itselt in
terested in royalty. What the King and
the Queen and the other members Of their
family say, and do. and think. constitutes
for them kind Of minor ethical code, a
1t a -
were not allowed to sign another prooana-
ton. or TO receive another report from his
Prime Minister. this circumstance alone
must continue 10 render him an active
force in Affairs Why? Because political
action ia not. and cannot be, limited to the
making of laws and the management Of
the public departments.
There. again. is the sovereign's relation
TO the Department OF Foreign Affairs and
the influence that he may exercise on his
! co,lntry's International relations. Thai the
| sovereign ought TO exercise an extensive
and direct influence over the management
OF foreign politics wHs disputed by Lord
PalInerstou. but 1t was not denied by Lord
Russell and other vindicators of Cabinet
privilege in Queen Viotora's reign. Par
lament has only very limited and i'm
perfect control over the treaty making
preroEative OF the Crown; and II IL adj
mitted that in the exercise Of this power
by the Ministry the sovereign should par
tioipate at every stage memorandum
communicated by her 10 her Minister'S after
one OF Lord Palmarstop'a indiscretions
announced that the Queen expects TO be
kept informed Of what passes between
her and the foreign Ministers, before i'm
portant decisions are taken based upon
that intercourse; 10 receive the foreign
dispatches in good time; and to have the
drafts for her approval sent 10 her in suffi-
Gent time to make herself acquainted with
the contents before they arc sent OF. As
a matter Of fact. the Queen did good deal
more than merely advise and warn the
Foreign Office during the earlier part of
her reign. There were occasions when she
intervened directly, with important results.
Our author has no doubt that her visits 10
Louis Philippe p lSi3 and lst5 had much to
do with the rnaintenan Of a cordial under
standing between Great Britain and France
during that troubled period IL was so
at her request made on the suggestion and
by the advice Of ths Prince Consori that
the peremptory despatch originally drafted
by Lord John Russell on the Trent affair
was NO softened and modified that il could
be accepted by the United Sater Govern
meni without loss Of sef-respect II is
true. AZ Mr.. Low BAYS that many well in
formed Americans believed at the time
that but for this action OF the Queens It
would scarcely have been possible TO avert
war
Attention Ia directed 70 another and
more recent erempllhcation OF the emol-
lent effect OF sovereign's International
interposition. lt is unquestioEaby fact
that mainly in consequence of the feeling
aroused by the war against the pIny South
African republics, England. when King I'd
ward VII. came 10 the throne. WAS very
ooldly regarded in nearly all the European
countries great and small The situation
has been materially changed by he series
Of visits paid by the King TO various Con
tinental courts and capitals The entente
with France was restored aud u valuable
convention arranged for the settlement
OF outstanding questions between the two
Powers The ancient am,y with Italy
aud Portugal was revivihed. good deal
Of the friction which lnsensibIy had grown
up between England and Germany wa- re-
moved. and an Angio-tierman treaty. OF
arbitration was concluded. 1t IL now,
ut course. to he presumed that tho dip!o-
matte formalities were transacted other
wise than in the regular course between /
Downing street and the various foreign !
Cabinets But no doubt has ever been
entertained or expressed A. 10 the part
played by the Kings c0urtesies in bring
ing about the results. International ALI
ances and arran Eemeuts sre not merely
an affair Of protocols They derive their
force from public sentiment and on this
sovereign can work more easily than any /
Ministry Mr.. Low ia con vinced that for (
eign affairs are likely to become more rather I
than less Important in England's future. !
and the change will not be calculated 10 I
diminish the influence Of the Crown For /
eign policy * the concern Of the empire az
a whole. Parliament cannot be constantly !
in touch with il and no statesman can have 1
that delicate personal relationship with the |
ruling dynasties abroad. on which much |
may depend
III.
What il TO become Of the House OF Lords, /
Two chapters are devoted 10 this question .
There is no doubt that this chamber has /