Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-06-05

is now, before the end Of his first dec
ade on the throne, recognized as the
most Just, able and altogether exem-
plary King in Europe The sacrament
al grace Oh great responsibility seems
to have come to him In overfowing
abundance and given him a wise head
and a good heart. He has steadily la
bored to preserve and make stable the
peace of Europe, and his efforts seem
to be certain of the crown Of success.
Out of the chaotic conditions growing
out Of suspicion, age-long anlmoslties
and overreaching ambition which daily
threatened a rupture between one or an
other pair of governments, Edward
| seems to have worked out a basis Of
mutual understanding which promises
to place the several peoples of the
world on the plane which business men
recognize as the only one on which af-
fairs can be carried onto Give and
let live"
There is here in this metamorphosis
In the character of the King of En-
fgland a lesson which may be applied
by all Of us, the humblest as the high
est, to our own daily intercourse with
other men. Many of us judged the
young prince harshly and formed a
false judgment of him mentally and
morally. We concluded that he was
lacking in mind capacity and that he
was morally proflgate.
Where we erred was In failing to
take due account of the circumstances
In which he was forced to spend his
life. His birth and position put him
necessarily In the possession of an IS
necessarily in the possession of an am
pie fortune His position opened all
doors to him. His education developed
keen intelligence. With all this he
had no useful place in society. He was
courted, flattered, caressed wherever he
went. His vigorous manhood needed q
sphere where its activities might be
put in play. Yet his position forbade
him to fad such a sphere where he
might do something useful. 1t was GER
tain In the nature Of things that these
activities would seek a means to EN-,
ploy themselves in frivolous things.
and these are always next door to vi
cious things.
Many of US who condemned the
young prince for his escapades would
have been less observant Of the decen-
cies of life than he was. Yes, and
many Of us would have plunged head
long into degraded and degrading Vices
in which we would have wrecked our
selves, physically, mentally and moral
ly, and from which we would never
have been able to mount upward again
and bear the burden OF any great re-
sponsibility that life might call us to.
In judging other men we are all the
time exposed to this danger of forming
verdict on circumstantial evidence.
We have not the clue to a mans con-
duct until we know all the circum-
stances that surround his life and all
the secret things which turn the wheels
which determine his conduct.
King Edward VII. is altogether a
most remarkable man. There are few
men of his time who, set In the midst
of the same circumstances, would have
INDUCED their passions less, would
have been so little spoiled by fattery,
would have observed so much the de-
cencies of life. There is scarcely one
who could, exposed to such temptation
as he went through, have preserved
enough physical, mental and moral
manhood to have assumed the great re-
sponsibilities of the throne and develop
ed such great qualities Of a great ruler.
He is wise, able, adrolt, just and thor
oughly human in his high estate. The
sacrament of responsibility has In
spired him with grace to perform well
the duties Of his position.