New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-04

it must be handsomely supported, for SHABBY
ROYALTY ia the shabbiest of all. 1t IA for the
British people to determine whether the Crown
IA worth its cost, and in making the computa-
ton every element and adjunct of the Crown,
all its traditions and all its prestige must be
considered. The fecundity of the House OF
Hanover may be inconvenient, but it is fact
which cannot be ignored; nor can England
have the trunk without the branches
and even the twigs, however
costly they may become. This Is one
of the disadvantages of the doctrine
of succession the most distant heir Oh the
throne ia, in q sense, majestic, and must mann
tain the established responsibilities OF majesty.
Even a limited and economical ostentatlon
costs something and when royal heir,
whether apparent or merely possible, cannot
pay his tradesman, the whole nation shares In
the disgrace. If the people of England relish
regal splendor; if they demand that those
born to the purple shall neither toll nor igno-
miniously spin, but still shall be like Solo
mon in all his glorious array-dweliing
in palaces, riding in chariots, and surrounded
by crowd of well-salaried attendants; II the
people of England want pomp, paseantry,
magnifcence, and all which separates kings
and queens aud their progeny from the COM
mon people, then the hand must be thrust
unreluctantly into the breeches-pocket OF Brlt-
ain, and must not come out empty Expense
is an essential of monarchy. Everybody will
remember Voltaire's bitter story OF three kings
who met at tavern without money enough
to nav the reckoning. The monarch must be
rich-so much had long been settled when the
nursery poet represented the Queen as IN
dulging in unlimited bread and honey, while
the King looked to his cash account and made
I'D his daily balance. 1t was not once thought
becoming in a prince to save, but some mod
ern monarchs have followed the example OF
Louis of Orleans, and have not disdained to put
by pretty pot. IL the mob be tOnd
to distraction of the brilliant drama-the
scenery, the jewels, the costly viands on
endless plate, the stables with hundred
equipages, the pomp and glory OF household
soldiers-then the mob must not growl when
Maiesty's man-in- waiting carries round the
hat. 1t would be absurd to expect all TINS
charming display for nothing or even for next
to nothing. The moment royalty begins to
temporize with shabbiness, the bubble bursts,
and the gaping crowd falls into demo-
cratic distraction. If the mOnarchs OF
Europe had sent Louis XVI money
instead Of sending him troops, it is ques-
ton whether Robespierre and the rest could
have played their bloody and lunatic tragedy.
The germ of the French Revolution was IN
the costly wars and still more costly house
keeping of Louis XIV. and in the expensive
harem of his successor. Perhaps there would
have been no Revolutionary Tribunal If
Capet's money-chest had been a little better
replenished. Hard cash might have saved his
head.
This idea of sumptuous royalty is tradi-
tional, and so long as thrones are considered
q necessary article Of public upholstGrinss, d
great deal of money will be spent in con-
structing and maintaining them. monarch
of the ancient sort who owned every
body and everything Darius, Sardanap-
alus, Nero might spend other folks
money at pleasure, because other folks
and all that did appertain to them were
tho property of the Grown. In Europe, at
least, there is nothing left of this irresponsible
and absolute royalty, and even His Majesty
of Persia is said to be finding out that an
orange thoroughly squeezed is-a squeezed
orangel 1t is becoming questionable for sub
jects to permit their royal rulers to mortgage
the realm to Jewish bankers. While England
continues to indulge in an ornamental mon
archy the bills, no doubt, will. with more or
less grumbling, be paid. How long Mr.. Bull
may consider this game to be worth the candle
we cannot pretend to determine.