The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-01-18
THE KINGS OF TODAY
Popularity Unquestioned, But What
IN Thew ThinIx NJ Tharnso1uoSo

Popularity Unquestioned, But What
Do They Think of Themselves?
From the London Spectator:
+ The kings are in front just now.
They have been gaining upon the
statesmen in popular imagination for
| some years, and at this moment few
speeches by cabinet ministers are
read with the interest attached to the
carefully-worded utterances of SOW
ereigns on their travels, and no ac-
tons are studied so closely as their
usually very rapid movements. 1t is
difficult as one reads Of their visits
! to each other, and ponders the mean
fnE of their friendliness, not to won
der a little what they think of them
selves. Though so often in evidence,
they tell us very little about that, and
the world has to gather it up from
observations not often accurate nor
always even keen. Do they really i'm
ag1ne as is so often assumed, that
they stand between the statesmen and
the higher powers, holding in special
charge the safety of their peoples?
W. may be sure that they themselves
reject the cynical explanation that
they must reign by Divine decree, for
nothing else cOuld explain the fact of
their reigning at all; but do they
offer, in moods of reflection and self
communion, any other explanation to
themselves? The German emperor
probably does, for though the rise of
the Hohenzollerns to the very top has
been somewhat sudden of late his
house has behind it a long line of sue
cesses SO amazing as to suggest the
Intention of Providence that the fam
lily should succeed Rosbach may be
accounted for by the genius of the
great Frederick, but the idiocy in
Versailles which made Rosbach pos
s1ble suggests something of overrul-
Ing Providence. Moreover the kaiser
must be allowed to be man of very
exceptional ability and fully the equal
IN craftsmanship of any of his min
listers.
His great rival in European dignity.
the Austrian kaiser, may also believe
that ne is on his throne by the will
o. heaven, for with his descent from
Charlemagne. through the husband of
Maria Theresa, he represents, in the
picturesque, if not the real sense, the
terrible majesty of the old Roman
Caesars, who, as De Quincy showed.
when they, reigned, reigned alone
without rivals to criticise or opposi-
t1oh to embarrass them. The Russian
defn1te as events seem to cast a doubt
upon. it. and it may be that. like
MS father, ,ehe holds that God must
specially guide him, for he can f11fd
In himself no adequacy for his over
Wfelm1ng task. The king of Italy
probably thinks, like a true Savoyard.
that though God protects him. he must
always be watchful lest the protection
be insufficient; and our own king, if
ne thinks of the subject at all AMID his
eternal distractions, has bit of real
evidence to produce Building on the
sure and sound foundation laid by that
great queen of happy memory, his
mother, he has restored the charm of
monarchy In way which 70 years
since would have seemed impossible,
for statesmen then thought the Brit
1sh crown was slipping to the ground.
The kings all alike, however, one
notices, though confident in the right
fulness of their position, seek the ap-
plause OF the people, and like all SOW
erc1ens since Belshazzar, believing the
writing on the wall to be transferable
hold, like philosophers, omne ignotum
pro magnifco They are perplexed, for
the Interpreters they consult either
natter or revile, and neither in revil-
ing nor in f1attery can there be illum-
nation. One wonders whether they
as Hdppy-Cney VINO, IN spite of
Shakespeare, are with the populace
byWord for happiness-blt. that secret
is kept as perfectly as their innermost
counseis for action. Here at any rate,
the heart of the king is as inscrutable
az in ancient days.
On the whole, we see no reason to
complain that they are in front. The
mcnarchies succeed as we'll as the re-
pnbl1cs, even in protecting that gen
eral sense of popular well-being which
1t is so hard to make either perfect orr
secure. Asia, which is Inherently
monarchial, is untormented by hunger,
but cries aloud at intervals that God
by sending drouth or flood has visited
the peoples with famine; and both
America and France are shaken with
anxiety because Of the very poor. We
talk of our Socialists as menao - the
order, of society; but in Germany and
Austria the menace is 50 real that the
whole people are disciplined to keep
1t In restraint. 1t Is, however, a little
curious that. while the peoples are
turning to the kings, they know less
o. their inner thoughts and real ca
psc1ttes than Of, those of any stateu-
man. Every sovereign is watched by
keen intelligence specially deputed to
watch him, yet the world admits
with a. single voice that a king Is
never known until he has been buried
for so years. '-- .''