Konstantin Dumba

Four years short of a century ago today, the United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing demanded Austro-Hungarian Ambassador Konstantin Dumba recalled.

Robert Nisbet

Fourteen years ago today, Robert Alexander Nisbet passed on.

A.J.P. Taylor

Two decades ago today, historian A.J.P. Taylor passed away.

A.J.P. Taylor wrote:

Until August 1914 a sensible, law-abiding Englishman could pass through life and hardly notice the existence of the state, beyond the post office and the policeman. He could live where he liked and as he liked. He had no official number or identity card. He could travel abroad or leave his country for ever without a passport or any sort of official permission. He could exchange his money for any other currency without restriction or limit. He could buy goods from any country in the world on the same terms as he bought goods at home. For that matter, a foreigner could spend his life in this country without permit and without informing the police. Unlike the countries of the European continent, the state did not require its citizens to perform military service. An Englishman could enlist, if he chose, in the regular army, the navy, or the territorials. He could also ignore, if he chose, the demands of national defence. Substantial householders were occasionally called on for jury service. Otherwise, only those helped the state who wished to do so. The Englishman paid taxes on a modest scale: nearly £200 million in 1913-14, or rather less than 8 per cent. of the national income. The state intervened to prevent the citizen from eating adulterated food or contracting certain infectious diseases. It imposed safety rules in factories, and prevented women, and adult males in some industries, from working excessive hours. The state saw to it that children received education up to the age of 13. Since 1 January 1909, it provided a meagre pension for the needy over the age of 70. Since 1911, it helped to insure certain classes of workers against sickness and unemployment. This tendency towards more state action was increasing. Expenditure on the social services had roughly doubled since the Liberals took office in 1905. Still, broadly speaking, the state acted only to help those who could not help themselves. It left the adult citizen alone.

And further:

He was what I often think is a dangerous thing for a statesman to be – a student of history; and like most of those who study history, he learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones.

Brazil Independent

A dozen years short of two centuries ago today, the future Emperor Dom Pedro I proclaimed the independence of Brazil.

U.S. Envoy Threatens the British

Seven score and seven years ago today, the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, Charles Francis Adams, Sr., threatened the United Kingdom if she were to help those Confederate States of America.

Continental Congress Convenes

Two centuries and three dozen years ago today, the first Continental Congress convened.

The Situation in Nepal

Crown Prince Paras of Nepal has recently made statements on the monarchy. So NepalNews.com reports.

Quote of the Month (August)

Writes the Mad Monarchist:

Revolutions all over the world claimed to be fighting for “freedom” – well freedom is not something they can deliver. Real freedom comes from independence and that is what these revolutionaries have robbed us of.

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Treaty of Paris Signed

Eleven score and seven years ago today, the Treaty of Paris was signed, recognizing each single of those 13 United States of America.

Roth Born

Four years short of a dozen decades ago today, Joseph Roth was born.

Tolkien Passing

37 years ago today, J.R.R. Tolkien passed from this world.

Olive Branch Denied

235 years ago today, His Britannic Majesty refused the Olive Branch Petition.