The San Francisco call., 1910-05-29
Mrs George Kepp hO received after death of King Edpqd

excellent political education. His train
ing, indeed, in that respect was much
better than his fathers. Queen Victoria
belonged to the old generation in Eng
1ish life, which did not permit any great
intimacy between parents and children,
and L have heard that the king almost
up TO the time he came to the throne
was excluded from all inner knowledge
Of what was going on, and still more
excluded from the exercise of any
political power.
But he, being modern man. treated
his son quite differently. They were
companions and friends, and doubtless
the prince learned a great deal from
his fathers lips and ripe knowledge of
all English life. The whole family, too.
has the tradition for generations, il not
centuries, of the constitutional duties
and limitations of the royal position.
and the new king viii do the right
thing when the time comes.
But for the moment he, like very
body else, is under the overwhelming
influence Of the outburst OF real and
genuine sorrow which gathers around
his fathers grave. The politicians are
In the same position, and beyond doubt
the death of the king has produced con-
siderable notifications in the whole
political system and in all the plans
of politicians.
1t is practically impossible that the
final collision between the liberal min
istry and the house Of lords should
come early in June, as was the expec-
ia ton some time ago The liberals, on
the other hand, do not want the general
election in July or August, two months
fatal to them from the electioneering
point Of view, and if they can not have
the dissolution in June would prefer 1t
in September.
IN THE AIR
But will the struggle go on--at least.
on its present lines? 1t is open to
doubt The tories are very sick and
very divided, and the king doesn't want
to begin his reign with something like
civil war. Compromise is in the air,
although it is somewhat difficult to see
how a compromise can be devised which
will give each party anything like what
il wants.
The liberals must have the power to
pa SIS home rule and Welsh disestablish-
ment. in spite of the house of lords.
The tories might not object so much
to this as to the further powers with
regard TO other forms of legislation.
And the protectionists among the tories
are so anxious for protection, or tariff
reform as they call it, that they would
not mind getting both Welsh disestab
lishment and home rule out of the way
if they could.
And. curiously enough. the cause of
home rule for the moment has gained
through the late king. 1t
was notorious that he wanted the ques-
tion settled and that he would have
been glad to have opened home rule
parliament in Dublin himself If circum-
stances had allowed it.
The present king at the moment is
hot in his affection for Ireland. It has
been to him and to all his family
Joyous surprise that Ireland sent him
and his mother message after message
of sympathy. It is the first time that
any such spontaneous outburst of gen.
uine feeling has come from the Irish
masses. He also would be glad to see
the Irish question settled. If Ireland
takes advantage of this magnificent
situation she may well advance her
cause by several years.