Page:The golden book of King Edward VII.djvu/33

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THE GOLDEN BOOK OF


Edward the Seventh sleeps with his mighty ancestor crowned with the rarest of all benedictions, that blessing that is upon the peacemakers: for "Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war," and these greater triumphs were his in superb abundance. Charity and kindness between nations—peace upon earth, goodwill to man,—for these he strove from the very outset. "The Uncle to Europe,"—"the commercial traveller of peace," as he was termed with affectionate humour,—never lost an opportunity of impressing his hopes upon his hearers. To the King of Italy he said:

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We both love liberty and free institutions and, having three great objects before us we have marched together in the paths of civilisation and progress, employing our selves at the same time in the maintenance of universal peace. It is not long since we fought side by side, and, although I am confident that another occasion will not

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