Quote of the Month

Writes Dr. John P. Zmirak:

Until the Reformation destroyed the Church's power to resist the whims of kings -- who suddenly had the option of pulling their nation out of communion with the pope -- no king would have had the power or authority to rule with anything like the monarchical power of a U.S. president. Of course, no medieval monarch wielded 25-40 percent of his subjects' wealth, or had the power to draft their children for foreign wars. It took the rise of democratic legal theory, as Hans Herman Hoppe has pointed out, to convince people that the State was really just an extension of themselves: a nice way to coax folks into allowing the State ever increasing dominance over their lives.

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Parliament Blamed

Six years short of a dozen score years ago today, the Continental Congress attacked parliamentary policy – not His Britannic Majesty.

Mr. Jefferson and the Declaration Thrown Out

Over at the LRC Blog, Mr. Stephan Kinsella declares that he is throwing out Thomas Jefferson, a painting print of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and a facsimile of this Declaration from his attorney office. He is giving these icons away.

Mr. Kinsella has cross-posted here.

More on the Paris Peace

Design of a Violent Century marks yesterday's two anniversaries.

Dr. Tooley also has an overview of events in May and June, and he reflects on the term “self-determination.”

Seat Belts and Life Jackets

There is the story of His Late Majesty King Olav V and seat belt regulations. The King had heard about the upcoming regulations, and at a Cabinet meeting he asked about the implications of these regulations for individual freedom. When the regulations were on the agenda, the proceeding Cabinet Secretary might have been nervous as to what His Majesty would say. No comments, however, were given.

Some time later though, the King was reported to have waved a piece of paper, containing a police dispensation for His Majesty personally from the requirement to wear a seat belt, at his Cabinet. He was also reported to have said:

I tricked you.

The late King was an enthusiastic sports sailor. So is his son and successor, His Majesty King Harald V.

The royal sailing boats are named “Fram.”

On the first weekend of May last, Dagbladet quoted Verdens Gang, and His Majesty is reported to have said:

I will not wear a life jacket. I have never worn a life jacket in “Fram,” and I will not today either.

As additional information Dagbladet adds:

King Harald visiting his old boat, where he is teach 15 young sailors in the project Nor Steam. After the statement the King got, [according to] VG [Verdens Gang], a jacket [discreetly] stuck in his hand, which he after polite preasure pulled over his head before the boat left shore.

Potomac "Neutrality"

94 years ago today, Austria-Hungary protested against shipment of munitions from those (“neutral”) United States of America to the British Isles.

Treaty of Versailles 90

90 years ago today, the Versailles Treaty was signed.

Sarajevo

A year short of eight dozen years ago today, the heir presumptive of Austria-Hungary was assassinated.

Inflation Calculators

Mr. David Kramer of the LRC Blog tips us of a couple of inflation calculators.

The U.S. Government calculator says USD 1 in 1913 is equivalent to USD 21.75 in 2008.

The alternative calculator – going all the way back to the year 1800, whereas the former calculator only goes back to 1913 – says USD 1 in 1913 is equivalent to USD 21.52 in 2008. This calculator also says USD 1 in 1913 is equivalent to USD 1.55 in 1818.

There is quite a contrast between the 95 years since 1913, the year of the creation of the Federal Reserve, and the preceding 95 years. Indeed the ratio is different, but the direction (price inflation vs. price deflation) is also different.

Brave New World

Over at Crunchy Con, Mr. Rod Dreher reflects on Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and today's society.


H/T: The Western Confucian

Money and the Weimar Republic

Over at CBS News, Mr. Brian Montopolli reflects on the German opposition to the current monetary insanity.


H/T: The Western Confucian

Rothbard on Progress

The Ludwig von Mises Institute runs an article by the late Dr. Murray N. Rothbard on technological progress versus other aspects of society.

Democracy and Demos

Over at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Jim Fedako reflects on democracy.

Norwegian Parliamentary Government

125 years ago today, the first Norwegian parliamentary Cabinet took office with Johan Sverdrup under King Oscar II.

Wilson's Troops in the Old World

Four score and a dozen years ago today, American troops arrived in Europe for the first time during the Great War.

Archduke Otto in Hospital

His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Otto has been admitted to hospital after a fall. So The Royal Forums reports.


H/T: The Mad Monarchist

Thoughts on Conservatism

Over at Taki's Magazine, fellow monarchist Mr. Charles A. Coulombe has some thoughts on conservatism. So does Dr. Paul E. Gottfried.

Mr. Theodore Harvey of Royal World has some comments.

Over at the University Bookman, Dr. Paul E. Gottfried also has some more specific thoughts on the late Dr. Russell Kirk (H/T: The Western Confucian).

Dom Pedro Luíz

Fellow monarchist Andrew Cusack posts the official statement from the head of the House of Brazil, Dom Luíz, and some photos from the mass in São Paulo.

Príncipe Dom Pedro Luíz, requiescat in pace!

Continental Currency

Eighteen baker's dozen years ago, the Continental Congress adopted the Continental currency.

Magna Carta

Six years short of eight centuries ago today (June 15 in the old calendar), the Magna Carta was sealed.

End of Norwegian Semi-Bicameralism

Historian Trond Norén Isaksen reports on the sad event of the last semi-bicameral sitting of the Norwegian Parliament Friday last.

This weblog was launched on the day the constitutional amendment was promulgated – Friday March 30, 2007.

Previous post: Parliamentarism in Writing


H/T: Radical Royalist (for drawing my attention to this historian's weblog)

U.S. Constitution Ratified

Seventeen baker's dozen years ago, the federal Constitution of those United States was ratified.

Tennis Court Oath

Eleven score years ago today, the Tennis Court Oath was taken – an assertion of popular political authority.

Versailles Resignation

90 years ago today, the republican Cabinet of Germany resigned over the Versailles Treaty.

The House of Windsor

Four years short of eight dozen years ago today, His Britannic Majesty King George V changed the name of the house.


Update: The change was only announced on this day.

Emperador Maximiliano Murdered

Two years short of a dozen dozen years ago today, Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was brutally murdered.

Talks in Konopischt

95 years ago today, Emperor Wilhelm II and Archduke Franz Ferdinand concluded talks on the Balkans at Konopischt.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Two centuries and 33 years ago today, a Declaration of Rights is adopted in His Britannic Majesty's Dominion of Virginia.

17th Amendment in the Senate

Eight dozen and two years ago today, the 17^th Amendment to the Constitution of those United States was passed by the United States Senate.

Independence Committee

Eleven score and a baker's dozen years ago today, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.

Congress of Vienna Final Act

A year short of fifteen long dozen years ago today, the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna was signed.

U.S. Secretary of State Resigns

94 years ago today, William Jennings Bryan, United States Secretary of State, resigned due to opposition against the President's fierce tone against Imperial Germany.

The Battle of Trois-Rivières

233 years ago today, the Battle of Trois-Rivières was fought, and the Continental Army was driven from Quebec.

Franz Josef and Elisabeth of Hungary

142 years ago today, Their Majesties Franz Josef and Elisabeth were crowned King and Queen of Hungary.

Constitutional Coup

Five score and four years ago today, the Parliament of the Kingdom of Norway committed a constitutional coup against King Oscar II, effectively asserting parliamentary power as ultimate.

In Norwegian calendars, this day is erroneously listed as the day of dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian union.

Constitution of the Kingdom of Sweden – Two Centuries

Two centuries ago today, the Kingdom of Sweden adopted a constitution of separation of powers.

Prince Luíz of Brazil 71

Prince Luíz of Brazil is 71 today. Happy birthday to His Imperial Highness.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Prince in February of last year in São Paulo.

Now we are in not so pleasant circumstances, with the recent loss of a member of the Imperial House aboard the crashed flight bound for Paris.

A Day in Infamy

Four years short of four score years ago today, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took those United States off the gold standard.

Please feel free to read Dr. Thomas E. Woods, Jr. on the great gold robbery of 1933.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Four years short of six dozen years ago today, Wilhelm II, German Emperor, passed on from this world. May he rest in peace.

Príncipe Dom Pedro Luíz, RIP

Over at the Wall Street Journal, Antonio Regalado and John Lyons pay tribute to His Late Imperial Highness Dom Pedro Luíz, Prince of Brazil.

May he rest in peace.


H/T: Radical Royalist (for the obituary)

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

The Western Confucian marks two centuries since the passing of Franz Joseph Haydn.

Prince of Brazil Missing

Dom Pedro Luíz de Orléans-Bragança e Ligne was on board the Air France flight reported missing over the Atlantic Ocean.

My condolences to the Imperial Family, Brazil, and other families involved in this tragedy.

Royal World has more.

Her Britannic Majesty Crowned

56 years ago today, Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

Congratulations to Her Britannic Majesty on Coronation Day!

Glorious First of June

215 years ago today, the Royal Navy fought the revolutionary republic in the battle known as the Glorious First of June.