“TARANAKI CENTRAL PRESS.” FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1936. LE ROI EST MORT; VIVE LE ROI!

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 307, 11 December 1936, Page 4

“TARANAKI CENTRAL PRESS.” FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1936. LE ROI EST MORT; VIVE LE ROI!

1 hough the British Empire does not mourn the death of a KingEmperor, this old French quotation is particularly apt at the moment. One King has gone, or is going, but another will reign. And therein, the Empire hopes to-day lies the strength of its constitution. H.R.H. the Duke of York is ready and willing, to accept the throne. The ideal of kingship persists despite the disruption brought to the position by the acts of the outgoing monarch. Ihe stability of thought in an Empire will not allow the removal of one King to weaken the position of his successor who by his position basks in the glory of love and honour, and who by his acts shall bring lustre again to the throne of the greatest Empire the world has known. The personal thoughts of the people to-day may go out in sympathy to King Edward. lhat he is to be pitied, the world agrees. But to those who think in terms of the Empire, to those to whom kingship is an ideal, little but opprobrium towards him will be their altitude. » In history, King Edward will surely be recorded as the monarch who ran away from his responsibilities. Self came first with him: the nation and the nation’s ideals counted as naught. He is one who reached the estate of manhood at a time when the Empire asked for the greatest sacrifices “in the name of King and country.” Ide is the son of a man who, just before his death, summoned sufficient strength to ask, “How is lhe Empire?” Yet, in his message of abdication the outgoing King said the burden of responsibilities of kingship could not be borne under circupistances such as his. So he has abdicated and fled from the responsibilities he admits are too heavy for him. But, Vive le Roi. Albert, Duke of York, will come to the throne carrying the full sympathy of his people. His Queen will be respected and loved; his children will be trained in the unselfishness of sacrifice. So the Empire will go on, with a new King and a new Queen, but with the same spirit of steadfastness against unconstitutional government, with a full determination to withstand every attack against all which would impair the freedom of the people. “God Save the King.”