The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-03
EXPENSES OF ROYALTY.


nance of royalty and of nobility is
taken into consideration, there ought
to be no wonder at the distaste which
grows in European countries at the
existence of monarchies with their
glittering paraphernalia sustained by
titles taken by force from the hard
earned pockets of the laboring masses.
Labouchere is just now engaged, it is
understood, in writing book upon
the waste of money upon the English
royal family, which must, after all.
show only in very small part the use
less squandering of money on
privileged classes. Not only
must royalty be sustained, but
numerous and idle nobility enjoying
grants and donations and special
privileges from the crown must be
provided with means to make them
the special and fit adjuncts of royalty.
In a late article in Truth Labouchere
says:
"a good deal is said about the prob
able marriage of Princess Clementine
of Belgium, and Prince Albert Victor
of Wales. Like all sublunary things,
the talked-of-union would have its
advantages and its drawbacks.
Among the former is the wealth ac-
cumulated by the first and second
Leopold. Under the Belgian law the
Princess Clementine must inherit a
third of the very important dowry
which the Archduke Joseph gave her
mother, and the same share OF the
paternal fortune, and of that
of her aunt Charlotte. Her
great monetary expectations should
relieve the house of commons OF the
necessity of voting her ga suitable
provision" Heretofore the different
princes and princesses who arrived
from Germany to enter the royal fam
ly were unprovided for unless by the
British parliament. Charlotte, OF
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was actually
engaged in laundry tasks when she
was agreeably surprised to hear that
she was queen designate of England.
She became the proudest Of proud SOW
ereigns, and was intieA IDLE on points OF
etiquette, but never abandoned her
habits of small economy. Thrift was
pushed by her to the extent OF count
ing the pins in the pincushiOn on her
toilette table. Queen Caroline's father
was rich enough to give her an opu-
lent dowry. But he entirely threw
her on the English taxpayer. The
Duchess of Kent was needy and en-
numbered widow before her second
marriage. Adelaide was given
empty-handed to the Duke of Clar-
ence. Nevertheless, she thought a
pension of one hundred thousand
pounds year not too much for her
as a Dowager-Queen."
Again he continues:
1T is quite mistake to suppose
that the opposition to what are justly
considered unreasonable demands for
the royal family is confined to the
Radical members. There is a very
strong feeling among all parties, and
certainly not least among the Tories,
that royal personages who receive
large incomes from the country should
not take every opportunity to sponge
on the taxpayers. Last year, directly
after Prince Leopold had been
granted e25,O0O a year, came a
demand for 9250 to pay
the fees on his creation as a
Peer. The Duke of Cambridge, too,
who gets 100000 year, obtained e34l
to pay his fees on being created
Knight of the Thistle. The vote for
Clarence house was particularly OBJ
iectionable. 1t was built and put in
thorough order at great expense. at
the time of the Duke of Edinburgh
marriage, and not only does he re-
ceiVe 925,O 600 a year from the country,
but his wife has an enormous for
tune, for although the cZar refused to
make large settlements, he has left
his daughter vast sum of money
The duke is by far the richest mem
Der of the loyal family, after the
queen. 1t is quite too bad that the
country should have to pay for his
small repairs"
We have said it before, and it may
be repeated prophetically, that this
order of things will not continue in
definitely even in England, where the
government is so strong, and where
it's boosted liberality makes the strong
est Of monarchies. The wisdom OF
Queen Yictoria's reign is admitted,
but these expenses are grinding the
pfc of the people out Of them. They
can not stand it; not only are the
Irish rebellious under estate rule
granted by the crown, but the English
masses are quite as restless. They
hold remarkably to traditions and
to this fact is due the continued
existence of the kingdom. Should "a
succession come in the next few years
during a period of social excitement
in Europe, and it is not improbable
that there may be widespread revo.
luton, the English crown may pass
away with the death of Victoria.