New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-07

prophecy. said 10 have been made many
wears before. that Edward would be King
but would never be crowned. and early
in January of the following year there
were renewed rumOrs Of plots of assassl-
nation. TO which was asCribed the SUD
den abandonment of a projected trip 10
the Riviera. Again, in June of that year
1eO2). the monarch's withdrawal from
the manoeuvres at Aldershot gave rise to
rumors OF anarchist plottings- In the
same month, on the eve OF the KING $
coronation, came the announcement OF
his illness, an operation for acute ap-
pendicitis being successfully performed
on June % The coronation was de-
ferred. and when il took place, on
August Q. 1902, the first evidence Of the
Influence of the new ruler. OF Edward
the Peacemaker, was seen in the pres
ence at the ceremonies of some Boer gen
erals. The King gave Osborne House
one of his mothers favorite estates 10
the nation as a coronation present, as
home for disabled army and navy OF
fcers. Lord Salisbury had resigned as
Premier in the preceding month and oeen
succeeded by Mr.. Arthur James Balfour-
Henceforth the capable. firm. yet al
ways tactful. hand OF one of the aoiest
constitutional monarchs that Europe mas
vet known was seen until the end
of his brief reign. None ever re-
ceived an inkling of King Edward :
own political convictions The irish Ma
tionaIists who claimed. In Decemoer'
1902. that he was friend OF Home Rule
had as much reason on their side as
those who would have IL that ne was a
Tory of the Tories Whether in the CO.
aI,tion with Germany against Venezuela.
in Irish affairs or in the vexed question
of Chinese labor in the Transvaai' All
suspicion Of undue interference was 81
fenced by the cOnsummate statesman
shin of the King The Transvaal affalr
demonstrated that loyalty 20 the crown
10 tho chief bond of the British Empire
Nsw Zealand. Australia and Canada.
deeply interested In this question OF the
admission of Chinese labor. protested
7 ord Miner and the South African mine
owners declared it TO be Indispensable
The Colonial Secretary supported them
hut the King. without arbitrary veto or
Interference with home rule. suspended
tho ,mportatiOn of coolies until the
colony and Parliament should have time
for sober second thought
Irish and Scotch Visits
II was the Kings personality. again.
that made successful his visit to Scot
land where. for the first time In more
than eighty years, royal court was held
at Holvrood Castle. His visits 20 Ireland
had no less good results. even though
the Nationalist members of the Dublin
refused TO vote for an address
of welcome. The Irish people showed
their appreciation OF so rare an occur
renee in their history as visit from the
sovereign. and discovered. by way OF re-
ward. that Edward was King of Ireland
nv right of descent. on the distaff side
from the old kings of Leinster.
The Kings course in current domestic
a fairs in the United Kingdom is mat
Ter OF common knowledge. The same
strict impartiality. the same reticence
and tact have marked his course there.
His influence. SO far as rumor has at
tempted to trace il. has been a wise and
moderating one. With all his very real