New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
THE QUEBEC FESTIVAL
Significance of the Royal Visit-
Canada and the CrosCn.
BIZ j. Castcn Hopkins.


-o-onto July 2s-The present visit OF the Prince
.,usles 10 Canada, or. rather. its most ancient
=. e,s historic centre is both significant and i'm
,--ant Il is significant once more recognizing
- n4baic popular and official manner the head
- of the British Crown and the allegiance Of
-e-ssa and other colonial nations TO a common
.-,c.ule Of loyalty and unity; it is important as
r,hesszing the fact that the monarchcal form of
-,r,ent is firmly established upon the northern
- 81 this continent and lives and grows side by
- With the very diverse institutions OF the great
= snr,hlic in the worlds history; it Is also in
e7i,p as adding the touch OF modern state and
-,ortsi splepdor 10 a pageant which Is not all
az the past
~ that all these considerations present them
- - q combined form to the average Canadian.
The man the street or in the workshop OF IN
- office may individually have feelings OF Ihe
- as 70 the abstract value or real meaning Of
o,s-chicaI institutions. In a general way, now
= h. viii tell you from Halifax 10 Vancouver
- -te,- work very well in Canada: that the late
80, victoria was the greatest woman IN the
- and one Of the best That King Edward is a
-. sao,or in the preservation Of peace and
a+ss7naa in every high sense Of the word; tha1
- prince OF Wales frequently represents and acts
. he King and that il is fitting he should give
- stamp Of royalty 10 great occasion such as
= crescent: that the ordinary representatives OF
LIZ fr,,-the Governors General-have been Of
= ,,srr best type. and also very good friends TO
-,.5a when they returned home If such a man
80 he an irlperialist he viii emphasize the fact
-. The sovereign is the vital link between the
-srjons Of the empire; il almost any case ne VIII
admit l. -. :. ~
,z.,sh views he VIII say that the monarchy does
- cost Canada anything anyway and that IL IS
---a- than the expenditure OF many Tl1lllions OF
soIls-s and the loss OF many millions more ny tne
e.,ncisl disturbances OF . periodical PresloeAIaI
election.
NO REPUBLICANIsM IN CANADA
4s- as politics the press. the public platform
and the pulpit are concerned, there is no repuo-
-..s-is-7 in Canada and no avowed aversion 10
-a-crical institutions as embodied IN the
80 of the empire and the Governor General
-, 4, To say that there are no individual be
s--srs IN abstract republican principles would be
,be-,-d. there are probably many But they nave
- nlace in public advocacy and only find express
-, where they do come 10 the front in some
-1s,ssi eulogy OF democracy. in an avowed detes-
-..ion Of artstocracy followed in some well known
cases by the ready acceptance of Gzes) or IN tax
~ he equality OF man and man and the beneh-
cs,ce OF rule by the people of the people 1o1 me
nsonle Even in these cases. however, the vast
,sto7-v would refuse II brought from theory TO
e.. concrete reality the lifting Of finger 10 pro-
ota srv positive and serious change in our insti-
tutions-
Theoretically. and among thoughtful men or stu
s--s Of constitutional Development there are TWO
srboois Of Canadian opinion The first takes mon
-ch- zs z matter Of tradition and history, finds
--,,h Of avl and more that is good in its record
,,d zones TO the conclusion that the empire OF
c-ss- Britain has to-day the very best form OF a
-s,.sssrv institution L may have produced the
prhard who fell Bosworth a Charles II or a
cao-re ". but. on the other hand. il stands out
,,o-;o,siv under the Iinaelght Of history in the
-r5Zns Of Edward I Of an Elizabeth and the Tudors
,g,a-allz- 7f Victoria or Edward VII Il certainly
80 military glory and territorial extension and
-s-tonsI rni-v 70 what We're once political frag-
r,sr+s and is row the United Kingdom: Il promoted
-sIvious Independence at times. and eventually re
fsvsd England OF foreign ecclesiastical dominance;
e rofecred arts and sciences and literature in days
-hsn the dominant passion Of civilized nations
vas va and the fruits Of military success; II gave
ne Fnzifsh people and in later time its colonial
rsrons The blessings Of political evolution without
rs-oIi7r0r i provided trained national diplomacy
s-6 TODAY provides unique power Of diplomatic
sr-ior in great ruler il gave and still gives an
o-gauized and permanent centre for rnilItary ad-
hrston ard cohesion: II mas afforded personal en-
,or-srs-7err 70 adventurous spirits and empire
builders from the davs Of Drake those Of Rhodes;
e hss given 20 the nation many great tradltio15
and 2 record of military skill and ROYAL bravery
f-o-n The exrloits Of the Black Prince 20 the ser
rices Of the Duke Of Connaught; II now provides
ytsble centre Of authority around which scattered
and Youthful nations can maintain popular systems
Of government and develop in peace and reasonable
harmony.