New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-07
the leading government journals would
seem to make light of the movement, it is

|
seem to make light of the movement, it is
very evident a deep public opinion
exists in opposition to such extrava'
gance. 1t is asserted that the British
nobleman whom the princess is
about to wed is a gentleman of large for.
tune and ample income, fully sufficient
for the maintenance of lady under any
and every circumstance, and therefore she
does not need largess from the govern.
ment treasury These directors and agta-
| tors are called "nOn-contents, and they
are told that this money is given to pay
for the precious treasure which is called
constitutional monarchy" The argu-
ment OF those who iadorse the payment
OF portions to princes and princesses, as
stated 10y leading English paper, is.
that sit is over and over again worth the
money which our form Of constitutional
government costs us, when We have
secured the nation by means of it against
a constant recurrence of popular excite
ment rising very nearly to the scale OF
revolution. as well as from those personal
enterprises which, us III France, may sud
denly huri a prosperous country into the
deep abyss of ruin.
The form of rule which, :. art alto
gether from its abstract merits, has
adapted Itself to the prevailing Judgment.
taste and habits Of the British people, and
which. in their sober estimate Of it. leaves
them the largest amount of personal free
dom with the largest capacity for self
government of all the countrle, upon
arth, is worth paying for it, at Il mach
higher tig.te than it costs Us.
What arrogance, and how essentially
pharisaical is the statement above quoted
1t is suggs tive of the mote and the beam.
and may We attributed to the inordinate
vanity and self-esteem of our trans
Atlantic cousins. Whatever comparison
may be made between themselves and
their continental neighbors, We shall not
undertake to question: but when they
presume to boast of the largest capacity
for selt-government of all the countries
upon earth, etc, it Savors somewhat of
the style of their own inflated Jack
Falstatf, and to our comprehension, ap-
pear, to be sublimely ridiculous.
The argument OF the street and the
shop. among those who compose the bone.
sinew and muscle OF these people, is the
reverse side OF the pic ture. Here is
England, says the orator of the trades
union for instance, with every seventh
man paUper; with the land held by less
than fifty thousand proprietors, and hon
est men and women everywhere willing to
work, but starving. Why should enur-
nous sums Of money be paid to support
one woman and her family in the most
luxurious idleness? 1t is an ;ntolerable
injustice This speech Was received b.
a tremendous gathering numbering thou
sands of these 'non-cCnrents with a We
hement amen. Meetings of a similar
character were held IN al the manufacture
ing districts of the United Kingdom, We
protesting against this outrage
upon the rights OF the ltboring classes. |
And yet the worshipers and devotees at |
the shrine Of royalty would have Us be
ieye that they were sporadic exhibitions !
Of disapprobation, and with a sneer and
,coh at these directors against extrava- |
5ance dismiss the subject as though it Wa,
beneath their notice
Let them remember the fable of the !
,nat and the lion: though the gnat was a
title insect which at first did not dis
urb the king of the forest, by it, persist
mt and ctasele,s annoyance finally mad
lenad him TO his own hurt and damage,
while the Cnat escaped uninjured.
This does not, of course. seem 10 be
movement personal against the Young
princess. but it is hurled at the principle
II lavish expenditure and the pensionng
# the members of the royal family out
# the sweat and toll of the thousands of
'oor. starving English laborers
We may be thankful tnat no such in
ubus hangs around our public treasury.
20 old man of the sea threatens our de-
1t is source of congratula-
ion that We are exempt from these ills
hitch the British flesh is heir to- and
his people may well be satisfied with
heir government and the prospect Of the
of institutions as enduring as
me- unaffected by royalty or any of its
ostlv concomitants.