The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1887. THE JUBILEE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1544, 28 April 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1887. THE JUBILEE

Until Parliament gets into the swing of work, we may utilise a brief space by enquiring into the reality or otherwise of the movements, to which the newspapers are just now giving prominence about the Queen's Jubilee. To begin with : the fact of Her Majesty having reigned fifty years can make no jubilee, and the various fitful attempts to begin or effect this or that useful purpose only bring out m stronger contrast the essential difference between the grand old Jewish institution, and our proposed counterfeit. A Jubilee was part of the Hebrew polity, and when its trumpet sounded something worthy of the occasion took place. The whole of Palestine was for a time thrown into a vast common, free to all alike. It proclaimed immediate liberty to the slaves and a restitution of alienated estates to their original possessors. It was a magnificent triumph of patriotism over indivdual interests. We are not capable of anything of the kind ; we do not wish for a jubilee ; and if we did wish for it, we should find.it undesirable m the altered circumstances of the world. Why then call the fiftieth year of the Queen's reign a year of jubilee ? It may be a year to be marked off from other years by some distinctive feature, but it will not be any feature characteristic of a jubilee. Not a rich man will deny himself a luxury; not a poor man will receive an exceptional benefit; because he has chanced to live m the year 1887. Let us at least call things by their right names. Having got rid of the jubilee notion, it will be found that we are expected to rejoice because the Queen has reigned for fifty years. We wish the Queen just as well as the loudest talker m the community does, and yet the question may be asked — what is the Queen to us colonists, or what are we to the Queen ? It is pleasant to find the gracious lady growing old amid the respect of those few persons who have the opportunity of knowing her character, but away m these islands we are beyond Court news, and while we are loyally ready to cherish all that is venerable for its goodness, it is absurd to suppose that we should take every landmark on trust because of its high title or antiquity. We should have no fear of the ghosts of political archaeology, and the phantoms of caste and privilege ought to trouble us but very little. Analyse the well-worn, although not yet quite outworn, platitudes and phrases, which thoso who affect to lead us m this matter are m the habit of using — '• loyalty to Her Majesty," "devotion to our beloved Queen" — and they have absolutely no meaning m the plain every- day use of the words. They serve the same purpose as the word, "Mesopotamia, did to the old lady who found its use very soothing. Writing from memory, we think it was Mr Gladstone, m one of his numerous papers to the Magayines, who told his readers that during the reign of Queen Victoria the kingship had finally been transformed by the silent substitution of influtnetiox power. It is an excellent substitution, and so far as influence springs from strength of character or goodness of life, and not from mere rank or title, it should be permitted to have legitimate sway. In this case, we presume what the writer meant was, that while the Sovereign can no longer make a minister or a bishop or a peer by a mere fiat, as George 111. and even George IV. could dp, she can by her influence get a good deal of her own will m these matters. Lord Beaconsfield deferred largely to her Majesty's wishes while Premier; it was partj of his role to play the courtier ; and he was an immense favorite with her. Mr Gladstone, who is less pliable, gets the cold shoulder. In 1851 when Lord Palmerston was so sharply expelled from place, the Queen's displeasure was certainly the cause» And we can easily conceive that s"he can make any minister brought daily into contact with her very uncomfortable, if he is not m his good be*

havior. But this influence, whatever its extent, can only be exercised within the precincts of that inner political life, which is a domain entirely unknown to the bulk of the people even of the old country, and to us m these new lands has no veritable existence. Whether the Queen has power or has only influence concerns as m a very infinitesimal degree. We mean no disrespect. We repeat our wish that every comfort may attend Her Majesty's old age, but we dislike sham and make-believe. We. shall be exceedingly glad if, on the, wave of this talked-of loyalty, the colony shall get a number of Old Men's Homes, or Art Galleries, qr Free Libraries ; call them all Victoria, if it so please tho givers ; but these institutions might have as well been got last year or any other year as this present year. We shall not, however, look any gift-horse very closely m the mouth, but accept the good the gods shall give us.