MR. STEAD AND THE PRINCE.
IT has happened before now, when the Happy Family to whom Mr. Stead may be said politically to belong were most unanimous and bitter in their denunciations of the present Government and those who directed it, that he would unexpectedly take upon himself the role of explaining to his astounded friends and foes that the Evil Person in question -was not at all a bad fellow at bottom, not nearly so black as he was painted. Thus, he has been known to assert his lively admiration of Lord Salisbury's statesmanship, his belief in -Mr. Balfour as a young man of good parts, and his affection for Mr. Smith, at times when, if he had followed the example of his friends, the very. mention of their names would have caused him to gnash his teeth with 'rage. It is an originality not without its special merit, for by many people it is held to be liberality, love of fair-play, and freedom from prejudice, and the original 'Mr. Stead is the good man who has a good word even for his worst enemies. And it must be allowed that on such occasions he is not chary of his good words, but administers his praise with the same lavish hand with which he deals out blame. These little sallies on his part seem to afford him great satisfaction, and to be greatly admired by his own immediate friends and followers ; but they must be very grievous to the victims whom Mr. Stead has selected for honour. It is really unfortunate— nay, it is probably one of the most unhappy signs of the un- regenerate nature of the human heart—that there should be so many people in the world who prefer Mr. Stead's hostility to his good-will, who would rather be admonished than approved by that lover of virtue. Undoubtedly his approba- tion partakes rather of the character of patronage ; but no one should resent the patronage of a gentleman who would not hesitate to patronise an archangel, if it became his duty to do so ; and we can only explain this curious shrinking from Mr. Stead's notice by the well-worn plea of human ingratitude. We trust that Mr. Stead's latest protege, :the Prince of Wales. may rise superior to this failing, and show himself really grateful for the kindly interest that Mr. Stead has shown in his affairs, the really handsome defence that has been put forward on his behalf, and the charming future prospect that Mr. Stead offers him.
Looking down from the ineffable summit which he has so long occupied in his own estimation, Mr. Stead has observed with pain that the Heir to the Throne has incurred the dis- pleasure of his own good friends. It might well have been expected that he would have joined his eager denunciation to them, and that we should have once more listened to the rather shrill voice of the Accusing Angel of Society. But no : again Mr. Stead has chosen to be original, and instead of appearing for the prosecution, has risen as counsel for the defence. It is true that the case for the prose- cution was rather weak, that the grounds of complaint were unreasonably exaggerated, and that the voices raised upon that side were more vehement than judicious ; but it has remained for Mr. Stead, when the whole affair had been well-nigh forgotten, to suddenly jump up on the side of defence, and to cover his client with ridicule. Nothing more original can well be imagined than the solemn excuse that is put forward in this month's Review of Reviews on behalf of the Prince of Wales, and the delightful proposition that is made for his reform. Alas! Mr. Stead must admit with sorrow that his illustrious client has not always spent his time wisely ; but whose was the fault ? It was the fault of society in the first place, and to a certain extent of a Conservative Government. Society, according to the Reviewer of Reviews, has lavished its prayers upon the Prince of Wales—indeed, by multiplying the Collect in the Prayer-Book by the days of the year and the number of churches where it is used, he arrives at a total of several millions of prayers—but has taken no active steps to make its prayers efficacious. We know that " Heaven helps those who help themselves" should be a favourite motto of Mr. Stead's, and we can well understand his impatience with a community that is content to pray and let things alone. That is not the way in which Mr. Stead has brought about the grand social reforms which are associated with his name. And in this particular case, he protests that the remedy is perfectly obvious and simple. Here we would venture to suggest that Mr. Stead is not altogether original : although very reluctant to accuse of plagiarism a gentleman who has been so earnest in condemning plagiarism in others, we cannot help thinking that the con- nection between idleness and mischief is an idea that has appeared in• print before : surely the sententious Dr. Watts has said 'something of very similar import. However, that is a matter of little consequence. The Prince of 'Wales, according to Mr. Stead, has nothing to do ; therefore he plays
to his friends : give him something td'do, and all will be well. This is excellent reasoning; but what shall that something be ? 'Mr. Stead is not at a loss : he puts himself in the place of the Prince 'of "-Wales, imagines what he would best 'like for himself, and generously exclaims that that is the very business for his Royal Highness. Institute a series of Royal Commissions, and make him Chairman of them all. A Colonial Commission, a Labour Commission, and then more Commissions, and after that, yet more Commissions, and so the 'Heir-Apparent will be ever occupied and happy. We can quite see the force of Mr. Stead's idea ; a Commission is a kind of Inquisition on a grand scale into other people's businesses, a colossal opportunity for setting other people to rights ; and we can imagine that the position of Chairman would satisfy all Mr. Stead's fondest aspirations. But would it satisfy the Prince of Wales The Prince of ' Wales is not Mr. Stead. 'He is not omniscient, and may doubt of his own qualifications for interference, which the latter never does. He is not gifted with an unbounded curiosity ; he has already more publicity than be cares for ; even the great dignity of the post may fail to attract him, and the prospect of conferring day after day with some of Mr. Stead's friends may have less charm for him than it would have for the latter. It is just possible that the Prince of Wales would be as reluctant to accept such a post as the Government, according to Mr. Stead, is to offer it to him. It is also possible, with all due deference to the Review of Reviews, that the Prince suffers rather from having too much to do than from having too little. His life is before the public, and needs no defence on the score of idleness. We should advise Mr. Stead to try again, to think out some other plan that is likely to be more con- genial to the object of his commiseration, and to with- draw the present scheme for reform. He has not succeeded really in putting himself in the place of the Prince of Wales, and of seeing things from the point of view from which the latter probably regards them. It was only the other day that he offered to put himself in the place of the Almighty, and we recognised with regret that, even then, he was still Mr. Stead. A very excellent and well-meaning personage; no doubt, but not the ruler of the universe. Moreover, though we should be slow to deny his ability to reform the whole hierarchy of Heaven and Earth, we cannot think that he is ever likely to- have the opportunity, and for that reason, perhaps, we are disposed to treat his views with less consideration than is their due.
Before parting with.the great Reformer of our time, we must really thank him for an admirable remark which has given us the greatest pleasure. Mr. Stead speaks of the counters which the Prince was said to carry about with him,, and exclaims against the injustice of attaching any blame to the practice. What, he asks, is the chief incentive to play at Monte Carlo but the sight of the glittering gold and the coveted notes that litter the table ? The very aspect of the game rouses a man's cupidity, and tempts him to risk his fortune in the pursuit of riches that are so manifest. The Prince knew this, and with careful forethought insisted that his own counters—plain, unattractive pieces of worthless leather—should be substituted for the dangerous beauty -of the coin of the realm. It matters not in the least that they were stamped with certain values, and passed current for them ; the lust of the eye was absent, and the chief danger removed. And yet this is made a fresh cause of complaint against him ! We do not think that we have ever read anything from the pen of Mr. Stead that was half so delightful as this argu- ment. Surely he has mistaken his vocation. What a wonderful special pleader he would have made at the Old Bailey !
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