Thursday, July 31, 2014

Quote of the Month

Writes Mr. Peter Hitchens over at The American Spectator:

To say that that the First World War was the greatest cataclysm in human history since the fall of the Roman Empire is to put it mildly. The war destroyed so many good things and killed so many good people that civilization has not recovered and probably never will.

[...]

The loss cannot be measured in cash because it was paid in the more elusive coin of faith, morals, trust, hope, and civility. The war is the reason why Europe is no longer a Christian continent, because too many churches supported it. Pointing to the poverty and scientific backwardness of the pre-1914 world is a false comparison. Who is to say that we could not have grown just as rich as we are now, and made just as many technological and medical advances, had we not slain the flower of Europe’s young men before they could win Nobel Prizes, or even beget and raise children?

The astonishing thing is that so many conservative, Christian, and patriotic people have yet to understand the damage this event did to their causes. It is at least partly because we can barely begin to imagine the world that we lost.

[...]

Those on the Left should defend it and rejoice over it. It was the fulfillment of their dreams. No single event has done more to advance the power of the state and of state socialism. Britain barely had a state before 1914. By 1918 it was one of the most tightly governed and bureaucratized patches of soil in the world. The Russian revolution would never have happened had there been no war in 1914. The great Christian and conservative empires of the world would probably all still exist. War also brought about the sexual, social, and cultural revolutions that are still convulsing what used to be Christendom.

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Kuehnelt-Leddihn at 105

105 years ago today, Erik Maria Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn was born.

Please feel free to browse previous posts.

Monday, July 28, 2014

July 28, 1914

It is July 28, 1914. It is a fateful day. A dreadful, horrendous conflict is about to be unleashed.

A century ago today. In the Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl, Austria-Hungary declares war on the Kingdom of Serbia – on the day a month after the shots of Sarajevo.

The Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl

As this video lecture says, the war hawks were officials serving under the monarchs, and they practiced disloyalty in order to have their war, even lying about Serbian forces firing first:


Sunday, July 27, 2014

Hoppe on Democracy and Monarchy

Part of a lecture by Prof. Hans-Hermann Hoppe:


Saturday, July 26, 2014

Huxley at 120

A dozen decades ago today, Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World was born.






Friday, July 25, 2014

The Kingdom of Serbia Responds

A hundred years ago today, the Kingdom of Serbia responded to the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum.


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Stauffenberg Attempt at 70

Seven decades ago today, Count Claus von Stauffenberg attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, failing miserably.

An interview with a grandson of his:


Thursday, July 17, 2014

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Colonel-General de la Fayette

Ary Sheffer: Marquis de LafayetteNine quarters of a century ago today, the Marquis de la Fayette was selected Colonel-General of the National Guard of Paris.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Friday, July 11, 2014

Necker Dismissal

Jacques Necker225 years ago today, Jacques Necker was dismissed as Director-General of Finance of the Kingdom of France.

Burr and Hamilton

210 years ago today, American monarchist and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was mortally wounded in a duel.


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

National Constituent Assembly of France

Jean-Louis Prieur/Pierre-Gabriel Berthault: Le serment de Jeu de Paume225 years ago today, the National Constituent Assembly was formed.

Cropredy Bridge at 370

Coat of arms37 decades ago today (June 29 in the Julian Calendar), the Battle of Cropredy Bridge was fought.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

War and the Economy

James Corbett debunks the myth that World War II brought an end to the Great Depression:




H/T: The Daily Paul

Monday, July 7, 2014

Strutt Passing at 66

We mark 66 years since the passing of this weblog's icon, or mascot if you will, Lt.-Col. Strutt, of whom the late Archduke Otto had a fond memory.

Lt.-Col. Strutt gave a few helping hands to the Habsburg family.

He served with the Royals Scots:



Please feel free to browse posts on this great officer.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Poll Results: Who or What Is Most to Blame for the Rise of Democratic Absolutism?

The Enlightenment
The results for the poll, with the question “Who or what is most to blame for the rise of democratic absolutism?,” ending at midnight between June and July, are as follows:

Total votes: 51.
  • The Enlightenment: 28 (54%)
  • French revolutionaries: 10 (19%)
  • The Allies of World War One: 3 (5%)
  • None of the [other stated alternatives]. Someone or something else: 3 (5%)
  • English Whigs: 2 (3%)
  • Napoleon Bonaparte: 1 (1%)
  • The Central Powers of World War One: 1 (1%)
  • 19th century Western politicians: 1 (1%)
  • Monarchical absolutism: 1 (1%)
  • None of the [other stated alternatives]. None are to blame: 1 (1%)
  • American colonial rebels: 0 (0%)
  • Pre-1900 constitutional monarchism: 0 (0%)
A new poll will be up soon.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

"Carte Blanche" from Germany

The first page of the edition of the Domenica del Corriere, an Italian paper, with a drawing of Achille Beltrame depicting Gavrilo Princip killing Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria in SarajevoA century ago today, following the Sarajevo assassination, Imperial Germany gave Austria-Hungary a "blank check" assurance – or at least so it is said.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Archduke Otto Passing

Three years ago today, His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Otto passed on.


Thursday, July 3, 2014

Pat Buchanan's Campaign

A campaigner gives a recollection:




H/T: The Daily Paul

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Faber, Rogers, Schiff, and Stockman

On the money madness:








Tuesday, July 1, 2014

On Greenwald



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