KING EDWARD AS STATESMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 23 July 1907, Page 4

KING EDWARD AS STATESMAN.

The Umdon lei tor in the North American Kcview explains to the American public that "nothing can be falser than to Mippuse that the occupant of the British throne plays in public all'airs a part thai is merely passive and ornamental." He lists, as ISagehot said, tlie right to be consulted, the right to encourage. the right to warn. lfe has, moreover, the right to act as the reprc>entative but unollicial ambassador (if his people to the nations of Kuropc, The writer proceeds:--'•King Kdward has allowed none of his prerogatives to rust from dKusc. IK* lias even on more than one oeea>iou pushed them so far as to provoke murmurs from th-> stricter Constitutionalists. Th" abandonment of coercion in Ireland, the appointment of Sir Anthony MacUonncll, and the ]>n-ii-:ing on of that great measure of appease'ment which will be known through all Irish history as the Wyndham Act, were directly the re-ult of the King's insistence: and his intiuenee has not been less an inspiration and a support to Mr Halilane its his task of military reform. An excellent judge of men and affairs, learning and a-siinilating with extraordinary ijuickness. devoid of prejudices except a certain wlw!esome prejudice against vvavcrers and fools, a past master at staving oil' friction and bringing men together and putting them at their ease, at home everywhere, always discreet, pacific ami full of bonhomie and enjoyment, and with what is scarcely less than a genius for knowing both what to do and say and what not to do and say. and for holding his tongue when it is all over—King Kdward is perhaps better fitted than any living statesman for the function of moderator and healer. Compare England's position to-day with what it was in l!) 01. when Queen Victoria died, and von will at once become aware of a change that is little lcs< than n revolution. Tn each stage of that transformation King Edward has uplayed a part, often the lending part."