Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-09-12
Coronations.

The present Czar Of Russia, after hay
ing announced that his coronation would
take place with great pomp, at Moscow,
In the middle of August, suddenly post
pond the ceremony TO an indefinite perl
cd. Several reasons were alleged for
this singular decision. 1t was said that
the health of the Czarlna was such as to
make it necessary TO postpone 1t Ii was
declared that the czar was unwilling to
mark the occaslo? with concessions as to
Russian land, which the peasant expect
ed and demanded. Finally 1t was grave
ly whispered that the Car feared to be
crowned, lest such an event would give
the Nihlists an opportunity to attempt
his life. The latter surmise is very
likely one. 1t is known that the author
titles of Moscow have plainly told the czar
that If he was crowned In that city they
could not answer for the preservation Of
order or for his personal safety. Prspar-
ations to attempt the Cars life have
been detected in the ancient capital of
Mnscovy; and more than one plot to
murder him on the day of coronation has
been unearthed.
1t may be that the Car Alexander
III. will never be crowed. But this is
merely tie omission of u traditional, but
after all, an empty ceremony. IL does
not add at all to a monarch's authority
TO rule to be crowned. It is merely q
matter of historic pomp and pagcantry;
it confers no new right or preiogative.
Many sovereigns have reigned through
long periods and have died uncrowncd.
Coronation Is, indeed, a very ancient
rs well as a very imposing rite. IL Is
known, for instance, that Solomon was
crowned with great display; and 1t Is
probable that the Assyrian and Egyptian
kings were all crowned. Coronation,
too, In almost every country and period
has been n sacred as well as q political
ceremony. The head of the sovereign
has been anointed with oil, which signi-
iies his conservation to the service OF
God NJ we'll rs Of the state.
The old Saxon kings of England were
wont to be crowned, not nc London, Out
In the ancient and August Cathedral Of
Winch ester. or IN thai lovely riverside
town, Kings on-on.T amer. Since the
time of the Norman kings, however, the
sovercigns Of England have always been
crownc, IN WINCHESTER Abbey ;and since
the time of Edward the First each sover-
cign has been crowned on the Sune
Throne, beneath which rests the stone
of Destiny" brought from, Scotlande by
the great Edward. $50 .t
IL was formerly the custom In England
to date the reign Of n king from the day,
not Of his accession, but OF his CORONA
ton. Between these two events the SOW
erelgn was called /" Lori Of England 7"
not king, which title he only assumed
after hr had been duly crowned. THIS
was the cnse boil, with Richard the Lion
Hearted aud his brother John.
Various reasons have served to cause
from time TO time the omission nf the
ceremony Of coronation. IL II said that
Napoleon III. never dared to be crown
cd for fcar of some catastrophe simlllar
10 that which the present Car Is now
threatened. Napoleon ]. had no such
fcarand was crowned with great magnl-
ilcenCo nt NOtre Dame.
Tho ceremony Of coronation Is still
kept up with much state aud grandeur
IN nearly every monarchy IN Chrisen-
dom; but n king IL Just ms much u king
without Il m with II. 10 Is the oath
which every sovereign takes at the mo-
ment of his accession which endows him
with the right and tie responsibility OF
ruling over his subjects, - Youths CONF
pdniOn. HfH Z.