KINO EDWARD'S DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 6

KINO EDWARD'S DEATH.

"A PRINCE HAS FALLEN IN ■ ISRAEL." x A' good deal of favourable attention has been ''attracted by the remarks., delivered by .Mr; Massey (Leader of the Opposition) on tho oocasion of the reference in ■ the House to the death of his late Majesty King Edward, and as only an abridged report of them was, able.,to be published at the'time, it will be of interest to reproduce'them now in- full. ■ Mr. Massey said:— *

\ "Sir, in seconding tho motion, I should like to say that so far as this country is concerned, not soon,' certainly not ,-during the tinio of the' present generation, .will" that Saturday.:afternooii bo forgotten when, from the heart of tho Empire to its out-lying dominions, from city to • -village,.-and ,from, village to homestead, was flashed" th' 6 message that tho King was dead:' People could hardly, realise it—that the" man who a faw days before had apparently been strong and vigorous'.; fliat'tho wise and diplomatic ruler ; had passed away. But so it was, and from every corner of tho Empire, from all classes, from all creeds, from all nationalities, a cry of mourning ' and., of,. sorrow;. iVent up to Heaven because a "Prince bad fallen in Israel: a-Sovereign 1 had-ceased to rule, tho sceptro' had fallen frohi his hands, and his spirit had passed from earth to the everlasting Kingdom which passeth not away. It was not only as a Sovereign but as a man that the late King was honoured and respected. In his own words, lie "played tho game," and he played it-thoroughly and vigorously. No corner of the Empire ,was forgotton, and it is a matter of particular interest to us that one of his last official duties was to receive the gentleman who i 3 now the. Governor of this Dominion, and who for some years to com© will represent the Sovereign of Britain in this country. During the nine years' reign of King Edward VII thero' were several occasions on which serious complications had arisen between Britain and other European countries, but by his tact and diplomacy tho difficulties were smoothed away; peace was maintained, and it was always peace with honour—the honour and dignity of Britain remained unsullied. ' One could wish at a time like this, when thero are clouds on tho political horizon, that liis foresight and statesmanship would be available for the solution of difficulties, domestic or , foreign, bnt it cannot be. Still the destinies of Britain are in • tho hands of a higher Power; they are in tho Power of One who has never failed—"Ho that.lVatchetli ovor Israel slumbers ■ not nor sleeps." So far as the pcoplo of this country are concerned, we Inu'o most of us lived under three Sovereigns. Wo wore loyal to Queen Victoria; we have been loyal to King Edward VII, and I am confident wo shall be equally- loyal to King Goorgo V and the Empiro'of J3ritain." .