New-York tribune., 1912-07-14

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had passed out Of boyhood; long after
bs had become a man. She was never
willing to let go her motherly authority;
end there was the authority OF the Queen
over her subject as well; since though
he was the First Subject in her realm,
he was none the less subject. There
was also, as l have said before, the
straitjacket system devised for the boy
BY her husband, and she was disposed to
make il after his death not less but
more strait. That was one of the ways
in which she thought proper to testify
TO her reverence for that adored mem
ory. Such freedom as he longed for the
boy had TO take. 1t was not given. In
public as in private the Queen asserted
her supremacy; motherly and queenly;
and sometimes in a way which must
have been painful to the Prince, as it
was 10 the spectators, It is not a pleas
ant subject to dwell on, and will give
but a single instance.
At the opening of the Imperial Insti-
tute al South Kensington there was a
great ceremony, in which the Queen, the
Prince Of Wales. other members of the
Royal Family and some thousands Of
people took part. All that was most dis
tinguished in society was there. II was
a company Of celebrities. The Prince
was next TO his Mother, in the centre f
the platform: Ministers and other great
officers Of State about them. Something
i never knew what-went wrong. The
Prince had done or left undone some
thing he ought 10 have done or not done
The Queen turned to him sharply and
spoke sharply. 1t was not possible for
the audience TO hear what was said, but
to put IL in plain English, it was evi-
dent he was being scolded. The Queens
face was an angry face. She grew red
the features were twisted with passion,
there was a gesture which spoke as
plainly as words. A rebuke, reprimand,
I know not what, came from her lips.
There was a movement as If she had
stamped her foot 1t was distressing 70
look on. The Prince was long since
grown man and he was being Chided like
a boy. His demeanor was perfect. He
stood perfectly still, making no effort 10
avert the storm. If he said a word in
explanation II only made matters worse.
There was nothing for il but silence and
submission. Then as ever his attitude
to the Queen was flial, loyal, affection
ate. Never in public was IL otherwise;
never, I believe, in private. The men
and women who held places Of trust and
intimacy about the Court have always
said that 1t was only on the side Of
the mother that any hardness was TO be
seen. He was a good son; none the less
good because his mother could not mould
him 10 her will or remake his life-yes,
and his nature and the man himself-in
her own image. Through it all he showed
himself the man he was.
This long trial Injured to the benefit
Of his own son. Neither the King nor
Queen Alexandra, when Prince and
Princess of Wales, repeated the mis-
takes Of the present Kings grandmother.
The German influence was eliminated.
Marlborough House was neither Pro-
fessor's lecture room nor a Prussian
barracks. II was an English home, and
this English boy who was one day TO
rule over England was brought up in
wholesome. natural, English way. There
is no better He was sent into the
Navy, and than the Navy there is no
better school, nor any more efficient dis
cipline for life In so far as it was in
ba D. 10 nf p 1fo
sailor-statesman. The great traditions
Of the service became part Of his mental
equipment. He knew what the Nelson
touch" meant.
Upon that basis his father built UP a
scheme OF Efe training and Of King
ship. So great is still the place Of the
Sovereign IL the Constitution that he
needs to know accurately not only the
limits but the extent, theoretical and
practical alike, Of his Kingly rights.
King Edward took care that the future
King George should have this knowl-
edge. But, alas! the only knowledge
which really avails in a great crisis is
experience. No tuition can do the work
Of actual contact with affairs. No fore
sight can anticipate great crisis. And
so ii befell that when in the first year Of
his reign demand was made upon him
for a pledge TO give effect If need were,
to the revolutionary purpose Of Prime
Minister he gave II. The demand was
hypothetical, extra-constitutional, un-
precedented. King Edward would have
asked his Minister to submit his demand
In writing in order that 1t might be
definite. and the evidence Of it incontro-
vertible; in order. also, that 1t might be
considered deliberately and answered de-
hberately He would never have en-
dured that pistol should be put to his
head.
This procedure, II attempted in King
Edwards lifetime, would have raised the
whole question Of a Sovereign's consti-
tutional prerogative. Such a question
was in fact, raised, though in a very
different form, in the last year Of his
reign. He was known TO be opposed 70
the destruction Of the legislative author
ity Of the House Of Lords. He was
known to be opposed TO Mr. Lloyd
Georges budget Of 1909. Yet, looking
at II as a matter Of tactics, he thought
the Lords wrong in opposing that preda-
tory scheme OF finance, and tried to
bring over the Conservative. leaders to
his view. He failed. He sent Tor Lord
Cawdor to Balmoral On his return TO
London he summoned Mr.. Balfour and
Lord Lansdowne TO Buckingham Palace.