The Chronicle LEVIN. WEDNEDAY, FEBRUARY. 23. 1916. THE RIGHT DIVINE OF KINGS TO GOVERN WRONG.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 February 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. WEDNEDAY, FEBRUARY. 23. 1916. THE RIGHT DIVINE OF KINGS TO GOVERN WRONG.

-N early sixty years ago was , seen the first overt attempt of the Prussian Monarchy to establish itself ill German estimation as possessing "the divine right of .kings.'' In reeenj; years the Kaiser Wilhelm has advene-

Ed a long ■way in promulgations ot liis belief in this world-endangering fetish. An interesting sidelight on the long-continued, systematicattenipt. of the Hohenzollern dynasty to foster this foolish dogona amongst the Prussians is shown in a "Life of J, T. Delane" (the London Times 1 greatest leader-writer), published last year-end by Sir E. T. Cook. It is very interesting to note that in 1860 .Delano foresaw and denounced the clanger that -faafi threatened to Europe by the Prussian monarchy. A British traveller named McDonald had been roughly treated <by railway officials at Bonn, and was imprisoned for resisting them. The Times took up the. matter hotly, andi called for redress, ana the affair "was the subject of long diplomatic correspondence between the two Governments, and led to heated scenes ?n the several Parliaments.'' Delane would not (et the matter drop. Later in the year Prussia was soliciting English support with regard to the Italian question ; "hut for our part," "said The Times, "we ait once declare that the ways of Prussia are not our ways, and that we will not follow an inch on the road of despotism." But the Prince Oon T sort was> then alive, and complained of this article as ''positively too wicked." In the nest year, 1861, the King of Prussia died, and was succeeded by his brother William, who became, ten years later, the first German Kaiser. The day before his coronation the new king, in addressing the members of the Prussian Chambers, 'had spoken of the divine right of thn Lord's anointed, in terms which his grandson has made familiar to the present generation. The Times promptly fell upon the speech, with allusions to the Stuarts and the Revolution of 1688." It is significant, gays Sir Edward Oook, of the position that Delane had made for his paper, that Lord Clarendon, who represented the queen at the coronation, attached all the importance ot an untoward international incident to the alleles in The Times. He wrote twice to the queen herself on the subject, and suggesed that she should communicate with the Prime Minister. After the second letter the queen accordingly wrote to Lord Palmerston, ""believing him to be the only person who could exercise any influence over Delane, ad-

ding that "even if this should not to much, it will he important that that gentleman should know *t he mischief his writings are doing, andi that the Government sincerely deplore it." Lord Palmerston wrote accordingly, to Delane, andi in reply received the following inimitable letter, which in due course was forwarded to the castle:— 16 Serjeants' Inn, 28th October, 1861.* ■My dear Lord,—! shall be very glad to give the Prussians a respite from that most cruel of all inflictions —good advice. Indeed, would not have intruded anything so unwelcome during the splendid solemnities of the coronation had iiot> the King uttered those surprising anachronisms upon. J>ivftic Right. Pray observe, too. in extenuation of my offence that 1 sent, a faithful chronicler to Ronigsiberg. who has described all the splendours in a proper and reverent spirit, and' done what man can do to render such coremonies intelligible, and the recital of them not too wearisome to those vho believe in Divine Right as little as your Lordship's very faithful servant,—J. T. Delane.