The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-24
The Queens Birthday.

today. On the twentieth of next month
1t will be fifty-three years since she
assembled the throne. Her birthday will
be celebrated in all the quarters Of the
earth. 1t will be a national holiday. OBJ
served no more enthusiastically in Lon
don than in Australia, Cape Colony.
Vancouver island, Jamaica, Ceylon or
the many other widely separated places
which recognize British sovereignty.
he Briton is a loyal subject and stands
ever ready to do honor to his queen.
It matters little where he Is or In what
condition circumstances may find him.
II occasion demands that he exhibit de-
votion to the crown, he does 1t with
show of the healthiest patriotism.
Search the world over and 1t will be
hard to find the British subject who
does not take note of the day and drink
to the health Of "her gracious majesty"
In the Arctic, under the equator, or be-
tween the two, the man who owns to
British citizenship will remember that
1t Is the birthday of the queen and feel
proud that he owes allegiance to so
worthy a monarch. There Is no more
striking example of loyalty to throne
under the British flag whenever this an
niversary comes around
On this occasion there will be reason
for demonstrations such as have not
been witnessed for many years. Within
the past twelve months the nation has
been plunged in a war the most san
culinary and important since the time
Of the Crimean struggle. For nearly half
a century there has been no call upon
British arms and valor such as that
just made in order to settle disputed
rights In South Africa. A new genera
ton has grown up under the present
queen since the national prestige was
put in jeopardy or the prowess OF the
people was called upon to assert itself.
But the British spirit of loyalty has not
died out. There was an immediate raj
lying around the imperial standard the
moment the summons came to fight for
it, and the enthusiasm of the response
to this summons in the mother country
was exceeded only by that displayed In
far outlying dependencies. Wherever
Britain's sons were found they were
prompt in Offering service and encour-
agement In fuller measure than the ex-
igencies demanded.
The celebrations today will have an
added significance in that to pledges Of
loyalty to the queen will be Joined con-
gratulations over the success of Brit
ish arms. Early reverses and periods OF
delay have been followed by the relief
Of beleaguered garrisons, the capture OF
important capitals and a steady ad-
vance toward the seat of the enemy's
government. Although a stubborn and
courageous adversary has made hero
ic resistance. the contest is unequal and
the end is almost in sight. There IS
no reason TO rejoice because Of a pros
pective triumph over an inferior foe,
but there is occasion for congratHla-
| tions among Englishmen over recent
military achievements. over the splen-
did powers OF endurance displayed by
| British soldiers. and over the striking
loyalty shown by Britons everywhere
| to the cause OF their country However
much people may differ as to the merits
OF the questions now being fought out
stand why the British people should
| celebrate at this time with unusual en-
thusiasm the birthday of their aged
queen.