AN AMERICAN TRIBUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1929, Page 7

AN AMERICAN TRIBUTE

The following letter, signed K. B. Ferguson, appeared in the “Times” on January 7: We British subjects living abroard have watched the King’s illness with even more anxiety than you, because to us everything from Home, especially at this season, has a twofold appeal. Ton can imagine with what pleasure, urnl I must add with what surprise, some of us have read articles like the following. It appeared on December 14 in the “Atlanta Constitution,” the leading morning paper of what is one of the greatest cities of the Southern States: “While King George has made one of the bravest lights against pneumonia known in medical history, and is reported as ‘gaining’ niter the insertion of a drainage tube, the gravity of his condition is obvious. The entire world is hoping and praying for his recovery. He is one of the most popular monarchs of all time, a simple man of sterling worth, and the highest and truest type of constitutional royalty. The group ■of men and women who stand in sympathetic waiting throughout the days and nights at the gates of Buckingham unlace symbolises the love of his own people. The Government of Great Britain is one of and by the people. It is nearer a true democracy than that of the United States. This country has gone far adrift from the old policies of democracy as established by Jefferson. while the British Government has been continually getting closer to the people. With this policy of democracy King George V. has been always sympathetic, and the heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, is as thoroughly democratic as is his lather.’’