The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-17
EDWARD VII. IN HISTORY.

a EDWARD VII. IN
With all the pomp that old Englaho
can muster, the body OF King Edward
will be laid in state in Westminstei
Hall to-day. close TO the dust OF ENG
lands greatest statesmen and
The body will be watched By the hihss
own company of the Grenadier Guaros'
until it is removed to Windsor on fri-
day. 10 be laid in its final res''hs
Mace As the excitement occasioned
nv tho Kings death has in large meas
ire died out. and as his final obsequies
have begun, the world can now MAKE
its estimate of his character and ms
reign and can give him his place
& among his hundred royal ancestors
King Edward was not a spectacular
monarch. Devoted TO the ceremonies
of the Court and careful to preserve
all those regal traditions which be-
,onred to his exalted station, he had
M opportunity, in the ninctyears oil
his reign, to appeal to the passions OF
English people or to the admiration Oh
the nations of Europe. Save Tor the
cr,s,s which occurred in the last few
months of his reign, he sat upon ms
throne in peace, and had little chance
70 show what manner of man lie was.
He had no Bill of Rights to approve
such as gave William lll.-William
the Great he should be called-his
eternal title to fame; he passed
through no such spectacular Reform
period as that which marked this
Is reign of his mother. He was klhs
despite reace, and he WAS ruler, despite
calm.
Yet Edward VII. deserves to be
remembered because. first of all, he
was a lover of peace. He devoutls
sought to prevent war. n ne
~anxiously strove to maintain good
will with all the Powers. This he die
amid difficulties ard sometimes IN spite
of temptations When Russian aggres-
sions began on the Afghanistan Dor
ders. lust at a time when England'S
allv in the East was preparing to1
war with the Car, he King Nigh
easily have found an opportunity Y
begin hostilities; and. when jingoisr
stirred up feeling in England agains
Germany, the King might have thro"
down tho gage of battle and won tn
esteem of millions Of his subjects. ii
did neither. Holding that Russia
agsressions did not menace England
rights in Asia, and firmly orposing tn
men who would have rushed into
war with Germany. he kept the peace
even at a sacrifice of pride and, per
haps. of temporary prestige.
Edwards regard for the rights OF
the laboring classes constitutes his sec
pnd great service TO the Engiish hauoh'
the greatness OF which service can
only be measured by comparison,
When Edward came to the throne Eng
land was Tori at heart. Queen Vic
toria was the most conservative OF
the conservatives, and though q noble
woman and a Just ruler, she belonged
10 the ancient order which could no
appreciate the changes wrought II
England by the second industrial
~ ASiiS AoAAA - -
Reyoluticn. Edward all thlS
Liberal to the core, and honestly DE
sirous of lettering the conditions 9
his people, he gave himself withor
restraint 10 the cause of the workin
fM 1lasses, and was responsible for niue
of the transformation which occurre
IN england during his reign. When u
Balfour ministry was forced to reslg
and the Liberals came into power, Il
King showed his mettle. Had he be-
conservative, had he been reactionar
he might have delayed reform. AS
was, he co-operated heartily wi
Campbell Zimmerman and later WI
a Asauitil, yielding without questi'
where they urged the public welfal
and supporting without exception I
measures which they advocated. tt
will be remembered by the future hi
torian, and when time shall have tri
Kings and their works, Old Age Pc
sions Will be the monument to L
ward VII.
With these great virtues. the XII
had faults. lie would not have be
s human had he not had lis weakness
and he would not have been great II
he not overcome these weaknesses,
Just people VIII remember. not /
things he did arliss, but the things
did Alright; and they Will rememl
now when Kingly duties fell TO
lot. ne was King and Father OF