Friday, April 30, 2010

Quote of the Month

Writes Mr. Peter Hitchens over at the American Conservative:

Democracy has in fact done Western nations few favors in recent years. It has not kept them from embarking on foolish wars. It has not restrained them from suicidal economic blunders. It has done little to empower the people’s desire for less mass immigration or more effective schools. It has above all been feeble when called upon to defend established liberties. In fact, it has often been the enemy of those liberties, as demagogues have sought to win mass support for the excesses of Guantanamo, the reintroduction of torture, and the extension of intrusive surveillance.
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Louisiana Purchased

Louisiana PurchaseTwo centuries and seven years ago today, the Louisiana Purchase was concluded.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Russell Kirk

Russell Kirk16 years ago today, Russell Kirk passed away.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

An Austrian Hero

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Prime Minister Stranded

His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway in a car in Germany on his way home from New YorkAs IceNews – amongst others – have recently reported, the Prime Minister of Norway was stranded in New York the week before the last.

His Excellency runs around the world as a proponent of Big Climate Engineer. Now recently, he was “stranded” due to a real problem where obviously humans completely lack control over nature. The issue of whether the ash concentration over Europe was high enough to mandate banning air traffic aside, we have seen here a real problem, whereas Big Climate Engineer proponents care about non-problems – and in so doing cause lots of other problems.

Pictures have gone around the world of the Norwegian Prime Minister sitting with his iPad – and other devices – in an airport lounge and in a car from Basel to Norway.

There has been some quarelling about stranded people being cut short in their wages, whilst the Prime Minister is not being cut short. The Prime Minister's Office has responded that the Prime Minister works efficiently and effectively when traveling and waiting. This, of course, misses the main points.

Contrary to the Marxist-like thinking, the Prime Minister is not the one to give people a right to their wages. With big government, lots of people get their pay check from the government, which is another problem, but that aside, employees have their respective employers, and the Prime Minister is NOT a part of that equation.

Moreover, the nagging about politicos having more vacation etc. than “the ordinary guy” can be quite annoying at times. This nagging surfaces from time to time. When are people going to realize that we would better off if politicians took more time off rather than spend more time in meddling in all sorts of affairs?

Finally, His Excellency is NOT His Majesty. Hence, he is not the top man.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

Bjørnstjerne BjørnsonA century ago today, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson passed away.

He was a republican, and Henrik Ibsen once wrote of him that he believed the majority to be in the right, and that he perhaps had to believe so because he was a politician.

Bjørnson has, however, greatly contributed to our literary heritage, and he was the founder of Riksmålsforbundet.

When the form of government was on the agenda in 1905, Bjørnson was convinced – largely by his son-in-law Sigurd Ibsen – to work for retaining the monarchy.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Habsburg Foundation

The Habsburg EagleArchduke Karl is taking care of Habsburg heritage in Ukraine. So the Kyiv Post reports.


H/T: Royal World

Where Goes the House of Lords?

The House of Lords ChamberAll three major parties at the upcoming general election in the United Kingdom agree on scrapping the House of Lords.

Differentiated Voting Rights

Professor Walter E. WilliamsOver at the Jewish World Review, Professor Walter E. Williams suggests differentiating voting rights based on federal taxes paid.


H/T: LRC

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Twain Passing 100

Mathew Brady: Mark TwainA century ago today, Samuel Langhorne Clemens passed from this world.

Amongst was he said was:

Wherefore being all of one mind, we do highly resolve that government of the grafted by the grafter for the grafter shall not perish from the earth.
And also (which also is attributed to Judge Gideon J. Tucker):
No one's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn accused Mark Twain of largely contributing to American anti-monarchism with A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

Happy Birthday, Your Britannic Majesty!

Her Britannic Majesty on Trafalgar Square

William III and Mary II

William and MarySixteen score and a year ago today (April 11 in the Julian Calendar), William III and Mary II were crowned, following the “Glorious Revolution.”

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

War Against the Kingdom of Spain

B.M. Clinedinst: President William McKinleyA century and a dozen years ago today, President McKinley of those United States asked for a declaration of war against the Kingdom of Spain.

Lee Resignation

A year short of one and a half centuries ago today, Colonel Robert E. Lee resigned from the army of those United States.

Colonel Robert E. Lee

The End of the League of Nations

Yann Forget: The Palace of Nations64 years ago today, the League of Nations was liquidated, although another organization took over as successor in this Wilsonian World Order.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Directives from a Returned Exile

Engine that pulled Lenin to RussiaFour score and a baker's dozen years ago today, the April Theses were issued.

Piet Hein

Bust of Piet Hein
A dozen and two years ago today, Piet Hein passed away. Amongst his intellectual production is:

When two share a responsibility, there is at most 1 percent [of it] to each.
Did he have our modern democracy in mind?

Friday, April 16, 2010

Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de TocquevilleA century and a half and a year ago today, Alexis de Tocqueville passed away.

François-Anatole Thibault

Anatole France166 years ago today, François-Anatole Thibault was born.

His famous saying:

For every monarchy overthrown the sky becomes less brilliant, because it loses a star. A republic is ugliness set free.

Return of Lenin

Where Lenin lived in ZürichFour score and a long measure years ago today, Lenin arrived back in Russia from exile.

Queen Margrethe 70

Margrethe II, by the grace of God, Queen of Denmark

Happy birthday to Her Majesty Margrethe II, by the grace of God, Queen of Denmark!

Trond Norén Isaksen reports that an opinion poll shows strong support for the monarchy, but that many want the monarch's powers further curbed. I would emphasize that the support for retaining the present powers – given the democratist age that we are in – is quite high; more than 40 percent for both issues mentioned.


Elsewhere: Dag Trygsland Hoelseth

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Downed Aircraft and Democracy

2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash siteThe Western Confucian has an interesting quote regarding how politicians in democracies spend money on the occasion of the Polish tragedy.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Amritsar

Memorial of the Amritsar MassacreSeven long dozen years ago today, in the aftermath of the Great War, the Amritsar Massacre took place.

Monday, April 12, 2010

David Lloyd George

Christopher Williams: Lloyd GeorgeA century and two years ago today, David Lloyd George took office as Chancellor of the Exchequer, where he was to be central in bringing about Parliament Act 1911.

Nine years later – four score and a baker's dozen years ago today – David Lloyd George gave an address to the American Club.

Fort Sumter

Fort SumterSeven score and nine years ago today, Fort Sumter, held by Union forces on Confederate territory, was fired upon.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Our Despotism

Brad Lowell Stone: Robert NisbetThe Ludwig von Mises Institute recently ran an excerpt from Robert Alexander Nisbet's The New Despotism from 1976, where Nisbet reflected on the size of government in recent times.


H/T: The Western Confucian

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Emperor of Mexico

Andrew Burgess: Maximilian I of MexicoSeven score and six years ago today, the reign of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico commenced.

Army of Northern Virginia Dissolved

Seven score and five years ago today, General Robert E. Lee addressed the Army of Northern Virginia for the last time, having surrendered the army on the previous day.



Friday, April 9, 2010

Britannic Recognition

Sir William Beechey: His Britannic Majesty King George IIITwo centuries and two long dozen years ago today, His Britannic Majesty ratified the Treaty of Paris.

Assault on Norway

His Majesty King Haakon VII and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Olav70 years ago today, this kingdom was invaded.

As mentioned previously, this was arguably a consequence of the spread of democracy domestically and abroad.

Also, out of mere coincidence, one of my old order artifacts, namely a Habsburg-colored tie, arrived in the mail on this date two years ago.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Entente-Cordiale

Bernard PartridgeA century and six years ago today, the Entente-Cordiale was established.

Popularly Elected U.S. Senators

Three years short of a century ago today, Amendment XVII to the Constitution of those United States was ratified.

State appointment of United States Senators explained by Prof. Thomas J. Dilorenzo:





Judge Andrew P. Napolitano and others argue for its repeal:



Ian Douglas Smith

Seven baker's dozen years ago today, Ian Douglas Smith was born.








Update: Elsewhere: The Western Confucian

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Doom...







The Nepalese Story Continues

The Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of NepalLast month, His Majesty King Gyandendra openly stated his disbelief in the end of the Nepalese monarchy. So Reuters India reported, and BBC News as well.

Moreover, Mr. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has released a statement favoring a return to constitutional monarchy. So Telegraph Nepal reported.

Viva o Reino de Portugal!

Portuguese monarchists have struck again with their flag flying. So the Mad Monarchist reports.







Portuguese reporting:







Also (in German): Planet Portugal

I wish we could have such a simple symbolism for restoring an older order here in the northern oil kingdom. Lucky Portuguese! Not for having a republic – that is. Keep up the good work!

Poll Results: What Event Sealed the Fate of the Old European Order?

The Ninety-Five ThesesThe results for the poll, asking what event sealed the fate of the Old European Order, ending at midnight between March and April, are as follows:

Total votes: 149.

  • The Reformation: 45 (30%)
  • World War One: 34 (22%)
  • The French Revolution: 27 (18%)
  • Its fate was never sealed: 11 (7%)
  • American entry into World War One: 8 (5%)
  • The Enlightenment: 7 (4%)
  • American Independence: 5 (3%)
  • World War Two: 4 (2%)
  • German Unification (1871): 4 (2%)
  • A single event, but none of the above: 2 (1%)
  • It was predestined to go: 2 (1%)
A new poll will be up soon.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Rainier III of Monaco

Rainier IIIHalf a decade ago today, Prince Rainier III of Monaco passed away.

From Dishonest "Neutrality" to Formal War

American Great War propagandaFour score and a long dozen years ago today, the bête noire of this weblog signed the declaration passed by the Congress of those United States for a formal state of war with Imperial Germany.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter!



Saturday, April 3, 2010

Russian Summer Ball 2010

The details of the London Russian Summer Ball for 2010 have been released. It's the 15th annual ball in the series. It will take place on Saturday June 12th.

Tickets can be applied for.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April 1, 1922

The tomb of Blessed Charles in Monte, Madeira
A dozen years short of a century ago today, Blessed Charles of Austria-Hungary passed from this world on the island of Madeira.