The Late King

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 1, 15 September 1910, Page 12

The Late King

Thus speaks "Life," the "patriotic" scissor journal of Australia: — And yet there are some hands busy already in throwing stones—or, rather, mud—even on the coffin of Edward VII. ; and it is unpleasant to add that they are found under Australian skies. One wonders at first whether the " unpleasant " articles found " under Australian skies " are stones, or mud, or coffins, or hands. The last-named, apparently, is meant, for there follows an extract from the Brisbane " Worker." " The pretended grief of the nation," said that journal, "is just that kind of thing that furnishes the condemnation of monarchy." "An institution that breeds such hypocrisy, such grovelling make-be-lieve, is an evil to be got rid of as soon as may be in the interests of common decency. According to the Press and the parsons the dead King was a paragon of virtue and a miracle of wisdom. So thej T write and say. And thej r don't mean a word of it." Speaking of the throne as an institution the " Worker " said :—" Power so demoralised it that it cursed the land like a plague. If it no longer bites, it is because the people have drawn its teeth. If it no longer lays waste the country, and blights all goodly growths as with the baleful breath of a dragon, it is because the people have beaten it into a tame beast. They still adore it, as the ancient Egyptians did their sacred animals, but they have taken care, also, to destroy its venomous vitality." The " Worker " goes on to declare that it " looks forward to the day when every man shall be his own sovereign, and to none other on earth swear fealty." All of which "Life" says is "poor stuff," "stupid," "malignant," I' nonsense," and so forth; and states its own opinion as follows:—"It cannot be denied that the British system is cheaper than the American ; and it may be doubted whether it does not succeed better in giving the people what they want. If Great Britain had been, by some political miracle, turned ' into a Socialistic Republic, who can doubt that if he had been a candidate EDWARD VII. WOULD HAVE BEEN ITS FIRST PRESIDENT? And if the new King-Emperor had to be chosen by plebiscite. GEORGE V. WOULD CERTAINLY BEAT ANY POSSIBLE CANDIDIATE." No doubt!