THE BRITISH THRONE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 430, 29 November 1918, Page 1

THE BRITISH THRONE.

In these days of tumbling crowns and prostrate dynasties, of revolutions latent and accomplished, the British Throne still stands firm, broad based upon the people's will. It has stood the test of a great ordeal. Never in the history of the world has there been such a crashing down of kingships and principalities, but the loyalty of the British peoples to their King has not wavered. Mr Lloyd George stated a plain and indubitable fact when he asserted in the House of Commons recently that the British Throne had won added respect, stability, and lustre, by reason of the action of its occupants during the war. This is no mere ceremonial bow to royalty. It is a sincere expression of the Empire's respect for its King and Queen, and a recognition of their fine example in a crisis of unparalleled magnitude. Mr Bonar Law and Mr Aequith endorsed and emphasised Mr Lloyd George's tribute. Their weighty and impressive words command attention, and when we ask ourselves why it is that King George is so firmly enthroned in the hearts of his people while a score of other kings have been driven from their kingdoms the answer is not far to seek. He has associated himself unreservedly with the nation in the achievement of the task which was commenced on August 4, 1914. He has shared its joys and sorrows, its hopes and fears, its aims and ideals. His words and works have been characterised by quiet dignity, wisdom, and tact. He has said the right thing in the right way and at the right time. Without swagger, or bluster, or bombast, he has proved himself to be au ideal constitutional monarch for a thoroughly democratic State. The soldiers and politicians from the overseas dominions who came into personal touch with the King were most favourably impressed by his manner and bearing. The Montreal 'Gazette' points out that American soldiers express in their letters home amazement at the King's directness and democratic simplicity. The ' Gazette' goes on to say—

" The King has met a large and tragic situation in the spirit of adaptation. ... In the bigness of the war,

in the needs it created, in the awful issues at stake, in the broadening effects of varions contacts, in the immense racial unification accomplished in the crucible of unexampled circumstances, our King has risen to the greatness of the moment, has made contact with every interest, has won the confidence and admiration of the Allies and of the whole world by his manly but modest attitude, his quiet courage, which disdained boasting, but above all, by his cordial welcome to every co operating agency consecrated to the supreme purpose of liberating the world."

The fact that the Throne remains unshaken in the midst of the most tremendous shaking the civilised world has ever experienced is a convincing proof of the soundness of the British type of kingship, and of the stability of the British mind. Other forms of government may suit other nations, but the British race has evolved a monarchical system which accords well with its peculiar needs and circumstances. We know, and all the world knows, that the selfgoverning peoples who owe allegiance to King George V. enjoy quite as much real freedom as the citizens of the United States or any other republic in the world. By a gradual process of political adaptation we have solved the problem of reconciling kingship and democracy. Mr Bonar Law has well remarked that our King rests secure because his Throne is founded on the will of his people. He makes no wild claims to be the instrument, the sword, the reprpspn'ative of the Most High, nor di es he threaten disaster ard df« h to those who resist his will With f he modest dignity that becomps a tni» king he prefers to ba3e his authority on his capacity to serve. ■ ; y his actions he has shown that he esteems it more honourable to serve than to be served. Mr Bonar Law asserts that the " phantom kings " who have fallen from their thrones fell because they put their trust in an imaginary Divine right " Yet there is a real Divine right of kings, but it is shared with presidents, parliaments, magistrates, and all who righteously exercise legitimate authority. Order is Heaven's first law, and political authority is sacred, because it is part of the divinely ordered constitution of society ; but it is only sacred as long as it fulfils the purpose for which it exists, namely, to administer justice and to maintain righteousness. There can be no Divine right to govern wrong. The Kaiser claimed Divine right to deal out death and damnation to his servile subjects ; King George claims the Divine right to be the chi> f servant of a free people. The day of autocr cies and tyrannies has passed. In the new era upon which we are now entering, kingship will have to justify its existence by its usefulness, and the British Monarchy has proved its ability to stand this test. And so in this tumultuous time, when many institutions are crumbling and crashing, the British Throne htill stands lirm, and it will tind a ■wcure plane in the new world, because it has proved itself worthy. It will survive, because it has demonstrated its fitness to survive.—' The Dominion '