New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-24
CORONATION YEAR
An Imperial FestivaI-A ConstI'
tutionaI Settlement.
London January i.

great imperlalist sovereign. Ascending
the throne as sailor prince, who had
gone about the empire and caught the
buoyancy Of feeling Of all the Britons
overseas. he has accepted from the out
set his manifest destiny Of linking To-
gethor tho allied nations and colonies In
indlssolublc loyalty To the crown. Whlle
there has been q reversion to the SIM
pllcity Of early Victorian home NE ana
while the business of state has been
transacted with as much orderliness and
system as during King Edwards reign,
there has been an unmistakable trend
toward increased pomp. pageantry ana
splendor on the ceremonial side of the
reign. The King prefers quiet, domes-
tic life and does not share his father
taste for great functions and details OF
traditional usage; but he considers 1T
necessary 10 make unique display or
the power and prestige OF the crown In
order that he may fulfil his obligations
to the empire.
The preparations for the coronation
have gone far enough TO Justify the fore
cast that It will be a more sumptuous
conservation service than the last ono
was. and that the self-governing states
of the empire will have a more CON
spicuous part in the professions, guards
of honor and ceremonies The corona
ton viii be preceded by an imperial con-
ference and the pr0niers and finance
ministers Of the great commonwealths
will he singled out for royal favor and
entertained with unwonted splendor by
the houses Of Parliament. the Lord
Mayor and public bodies. The Aldershot
man9uvres and the review of the fleet
of battleshps and armored cruisers will
be converted into imperia functions.
The service at Westminster Abbey will
he followed by a coronation durbar at
Delhi Of Oriental maeniflcence. and the
King and Queen will not he represented
by the Niceroy, but will he themselves
the central figures. The triumphal prog
ress in India Will prepare the way for
royal journeys 10 Canada, Australia
New Zealand and South Africa during
the early years Of the reign.
The oldtime coronation pageants were
town shows. designed for the recreation
Of q pleasure loving populace. From the
reign Of Richard II 10 the time Of
Charles II there were stately professions
from the Tower TO the Abbey, with the
monarch arrayed I'm white or cloth Of
gold and surrounded by a multitude Of
followers splendidly costumed. and with
streets gravelled, house fronts deco
rated with silk banners and velvet arras
and with wine flowing from ornamental
spouts in Cheapsido. Both Richard ii
and Richard " were grandicse in their
love of gorgeous costumes and brilliant
pa geantry; and the Tudor sOvereigns
carried the coronation professions to a
higher stage of magnifcence. Henry
VII. misery as he was. rode q richly
horse under a canopy If
cloth Of gold and wore the most splendid
robes which had ever been seen I'm Lon
don. Henry VIII reinforced courtiers.
of honor from the trade guilds Mary I
was attended by a train of ladies in
chariots or on horses through thorough
fares spanned by triumphal arches and
with conduits trimming with vino for
all corners. Grander still were the Eliza
bethan coronation pageant and the prog
ross Of Charles II from the Tower TO
and rich and costly was
the ceremonial planned by George "
and rehearsed like a play both at the
Abbey and at tho Hall
The splendors of the Abbey service
have been increased in costuming. stage
setting and stateliness, and the process
SIGNAL routes outside have been broad
ened in circuit so that million spec
tators can see the King and Queen as
they pass under guard of sixty thousand
soldiers. Yet so completely has the coro-
nauon been transformed in spirit that
what was once town show for an iso-
lated capital has become an imperial
fetc. The glory Of a single day has ex-
banded into the prestige Of AN aHnus
lnirabilis. The new year has been
hailed as the golden number which is
to witness the conservation of the King
to the service Of the empire, the investi-
ture OF the Prince of Wales at Carnar-
Won. the assemblagc Of the statesmen
n the outlying commonwealths for
conference. the departure
Il the King and Queen for the durbar
At Delhi, the festival Of empire at the |
Crystal Palace, the pageants Of Spit !
mead and Aldershot and the East and !
West Congress for the promotion OF the /
peace Of the world. II is difficult for I
press Commentators 10 avoid the Ian !
suaec Of hyperbole in their anticipations I
Il the course Of events of so wonderful !
4 year.
How different in tone Is the cold retro
,pect of the historian that George III |
vas crowned on the anniversary Of Agin- |
'ourt and that the great diamond fell |
rom the glittering circuit on the fateful |
lay and foreshadowed tho loss Of the |
american colonies, There is no longer
ny talk of alternating subject states by !
xacting tribute from them or offending
heir scnsibilities. The highest duty Of |
he monarch and Of his ministers is now
dainty recognized as the obligation 10
lind the worldwide estates OF the en-
lire to the mother country in commu-
lty Of feeling. For that end the Pre-
niers are summoned to the conference |
and TO the coronation, and the King and
Queen are To- be proclaimed Emperor and |
Empress from the restored palace Of the
.1...r,;opc DaIIf III