New-York tribune., 1908-03-22

the matter, and Il was not long before there was
whispering srnirking all around the Admiralty
and the political clubs. and finally naval ez-
ner+ carried IT into The Times as serious in
stance OF imperial meddling in Admiralty esti-
mates Now that Cabinet meetings have been
held and official explanations have been made IN
each house, it is plain that there has been much
ado about nothing. The obvious moral is that
private letters ought not TO be handed ABOUT Ior
the entertainment OF gossips.
The business. Of reigning is so serious, with the
ceremonial side constantly uppermost. that it is
natural for soveregns to find relief in occasional
flashes of hurnor. King Edward, Ike Queen
Victoria before him, likes jokes and brilliant
repa rtee but he does not write out pleasantr1es
He avoids letter writing and allows his secre-
taries TO conduct correspondence in an imper-
sonaI and dignifed way. Queen Victoria, dis
Greet and sensible as she was. wrote too many
letters and was involved in unnecessary con-
troversies. King Edward is constantly talking
over public affairs with statesmen and diplomats
but he is too shrevd and cautious to write let
+ere 70 them He has more effective methods
Of managing men and influencing international
action than correspondence, whether dashed
off on the impulse Of the moment or dictated
and revised with deliberation. He accomplisnes
his purposes by Informal conferences and snort
talks and hvpnotizes his ministers at nome
and distinguished Europeans in Marienoad or
PARIS bv communicating TO them his own sin
ceritv and conciliatory spirit This is more
fudicious method than the rapid improvisation
OF royal opinions in private letters more or iess
colloquiaI which likely TO be mlslnterpreteo
and 10 excite hostile criticism
The German Emperor. being a clever and
vfyaciolis sovereign. also makes use or MS TAI
en+s and fascinating frankness IN influencing
mon AZ home and abroad. When he was IN
England he had A high minded and laudable pur-
nose Of improving international relations ana
his agreea bic manners and charm Of converse
ton produced favorable impression ne "eS
= peacemaker, like King Edward hlrnseI' anu
-,r,ci1,a-ed members OF the ministry as he had
,,-e,to,,siz- done wien Nj HaIdane Mr.. Burns
and other associates visited Berlin he WIS
Doubtless irritated and disappointed Wheh Aoio
r-4e- IN = letter which might not have been
meant for publication. represented thaI every
ore in Germany. from the Emperor DOWNWARD
would rejoice over the downfall OF Sir John
r-s-tar and in continuing his Informal talk "ltn
ORD rr7raadruouth BY letter he revealed his an
-,o,,a-ca and frlpatience. This may have been
a. irsfscr4tjon but there be no CRITICISM
of his general conduct in making use OF personal
friendships for the purpose or creating pe''ri
feeling between England and Germany a iiiou
-, eo,,o-aigr is not a constitutional fgurehead.
,-eocc,,pied with ceremonial and etiquette anu
without moral responsibility for resources anu
o,,ort,,,,ities Tor supremely useful work lie Is
master workman in progressive world fet
be ought not 10 write too many letters ana ms
,,,.-,,oro,s propensities ought to be kept under
restraint.
The wholesome moral for newspapers OF any
T-a has been emphasized by Lord Roseoery.
rbev ought not to exaggerate the importance OF
.,,-,al incidents and create suspicion distFust
and bad feeling between nations LORD fNoSe"eiy
,7egtects however. 10 explain the real cause o.
,ha racen, outbreak against Germany. THIS IS
the faction fight now in progress IN the BRUSH
nav There are the Fisheries and the anti
Fisheries, and every prominent haVaI oiii1eI "
connected with one group or the othef. Inc
nress IS equally divided, every conspicuous Jour
nal being either a partisan af Sir Jonn flsneF
or q relentless critic of the existing administTa-
,;o,, az the navy The neWspa pers are served
nv experts military naval, who represent one
. rtio, or the other and these representatives,
are constantly on the watch for information Aad