Quote of the Month

Writes Michael LaRue, Knight of St. John, over at his weblog Pedes Christi:

Monarchy is often done little help by its defenders, who usually say that it is irrational but beneficial. Most often its attackers will say that it is "romanticism". However, a look at the history of political theory reveals that it is not monarchy, but democracy, that is the product of Romanticism.

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A note may be in order on the date of this quote. The Wilson Revolution Unplugged Quote of the Month Award is strictly for quotes originally made in the month in question. The observant reader will see that the linked blog post was posted on April 30. However, the time zone of this weblog is Vienna time, whereas the time zone of the quoted weblog – investigations show – is Mountain View time (apparently the default when you create a blog – Blogger/Google is headquartered in Mountain View, California). Hence, the awarded post was published in May Vienna time.

Happy Birthday, Archduke Felix

On this last day of May 95 years ago, Archduke Felix of Austria-Hungary was born.

HIRH Archduke Felix lives in Mexico, and he is – together with HIRH Archduke Otto – one of two remaining issues of Emperor-King Charles and Empress-Queen Zita.

Archduke Felix has proclaimed allegiance to the “Republic of Austria.” He has, however, not renounced his right to the throne or membership in the House of Habsburg.

Happy birthday!

A High Tory on Democracy, Revolution, and Money

High Tory Gerald Warner writes this Sunday at Scotland on Sunday:

Liberal democracy is part of the "accepted political landscape"? Accepted by whom? By China, which occupies a not inconsiderable portion of the landscape? Increasingly it is viewed with scepticism in the developed world which spawned it. Yet Western "statesmen" are still trying to market this flawed commodity abroad.

Further:

Last week the leaders of the G8, representing countries that are de facto bankrupt, pledged £12bn to Egypt and Tunisia to develop democracy.

The same High Tory wrote last Sunday in the same pages:

Critics like to condemn Britain as class-ridden and deferential, mainly on the grounds that the public schools and Oxford and Cambridge dominate the education system, while a few happy mortals receive gongs or titles in the Honours List. That is what comes of living under a monarchy steeped in privilege – if only we lived in an egalitarian republic such as France…

Moreover:

The IMF should have been abolished years ago. It is a phantom survivor of the Bretton Woods agreement marinated in Keynesian delusion. Whenever a country has been living beyond its means the IMF thrusts a large loan upon it, then imposes conditions such as inflated tax rates that prevent genuine recovery.

Cross-posted at The Monarchist.

Kuehnelt-Leddihn Passing

A dozen years ago today, Erik Maria Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn passed away.

The crest shown is the crest of the Kuehnelt-Leddihn noble family – courtesy of the family. Seeing the crest one should not wonder why this great man went by the name the Lion of Lans. Of course, he roared like a lion in the historical and political-philosphical debate too.

Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn's “favorite animal” was an imaginary animal, the “pamelon,” which illustrates quite well some human traits, namely the ability to repeat uncritically what others say, which is a characteristic of the parrot, and the ability to adjust to the environment, which is a characteristic of the chameleon. The “pamelon” is a crossbreeding of the parrot and the chameleon. The pamelon is a very good illustration of your typical politico. It changes color depending on environment, setting, audience, etc., and it tells you what you want to hear. And it's a good illustration of the uncritical zeitgeist follower as well.

The Brenner Archive page can be found here.

Please also feel free to browse previous posts.

Gavrilo Princip Leaves Belgrade

Three years short of a century ago today, Gavrilo Princip left Belgrade for Sarajevo.

Habsburg vs. Savoy

Eight dozen years ago today, the Kingdom of Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary.

Alliance for Three

Twice eight squared and a year ago today, the Triple Alliance was formed between the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy.

Constitution Day

Today is Constitution Day here in this oil kingdom. We are three years short of the bicentennial.

Liberation Day

Last Sunday was Liberation Day here in this oil kingdom. There are several events around the country, and it is an official flag-flying day.

One could stop and wonder why our grandfathers fought to expel the Nazi Germans – when we are developing a surveillance state that would make Reichskommissar Terboven green of envy.

The past week there has been a controversy on His Majesty's role of decorating soldiers and military officers. Mr. Dag T. Hoelseth, host of Hoelseth's Royal Corner, has more:

• Veterans' Day without King Harald
• The debate goes on: Stoltenberg denies snubbing the king
• About-turn! Norwegian Prime Minister changes his mind in Veterans' Day farce

Her Britannic Majesty Neutral

One and a half centuries ago today, Her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria issued a proclamation of neutrality for the conflict between those Confederate States of America and those United States of America.

Habsburg Anniversary

This day would have been the diamond wedding anniversary of Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses Archduke Otto and the late Archduchess Regina.

Russian Summer Ball 2011

The details of the London Russian Summer Ball for 2011 have been released. It's the 16^th annual ball in the series. It will take place on Saturday June 11^th.

Tickets can be applied for.

Claude Choules, RIP

The last known surviving combat veteran of the Great War, Claude Stanley Choules, passed away today.

Mr. Choules was the last known witness of the demise of the Hochseeflotte of the Kaiserliche Marine at Scapa Flow.

Since the passing of Harry Patch almost two years ago, John Babcock has passed, and so has Frank Buckles. Franz Künstler passed almost three years ago.

There are no known combatants of the Great War left.

May they all rest in peace!


Elsewhere: The Daily Telegraph, Google News

Alexander Kerensky

A baker's dozen decades ago today, the revolutionary Alexander Kerensky was born.

Please feel free to enjoy photos of the late Imperial family:

Charles II Coronation

350 years ago today (April 23 in the Julian Calendar), Charles II was crowned.