ROYALTY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12534, 22 June 1901, Page 6

ROYALTY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

To-day lias come the turn of Christchurch to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. In Auckland and Wellington, and all along their route they have been received with loyal enthusiasm. And yet New Zealand, which gives such a hearty welcome to its future King and Queen, is the most democratic of all the colonies. But British Liberals have long ceased to feel that monarcbs are necessarily their enemies. As far as our experience goes, monarchy is the only successful working system for a great Empire. The anarchical condition of France, and the political and commercial corruption of America warn us that the establishment of a republic does not improve the social condition' of the people. In paying our respects to the representative of the Throne, we do not feel that we are contradicting our democratic professions. Royalty represents to us the principle of the British Constitution under which our colony has grown and prospered, and whose laws unite all the members of the race,, from monarch to citizen. We are offering homage, not merely to the Royal House, but to the whole fabric of the Constitution built up by <mr forefathers, through one. generation after another. Wo see, too, in the visit of the King’s son to our colony, a recognition' cf our place amongst the members of the Anglo-Saxon race. In the Duke and Duchess we recognise the symbol of an Empire whose grandeur and extent almost overwhelm our i maa ln^ rm -eir fouraav of,

the “scarlet; thread of kinship” that ties ua to Australia, to Canada, to the Gape, and to. such distant outposts as Ceylon and 1 Singapore. Wo were stirred when we saw the British regiments pass down our streets, because of the glorious associations connected with their names. But the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall represent a still more venerable historic past. They are descendants of a race reaching 'through Hanoverian', Stuart, Tudor, and Hantageneb, ' right back to Alfred the Great. Royalty inspires something of the feeling wo have for a venerable shrine, which, in superstitious ages, would have been an object of idolatrous worship, but which to-day wo can regard with a respect and an interest that do not imply any forfeiture of selfesteem; Wo no longer attribute to Sovereignty the supernatural and mysterious divinity it was credited with in Shakspere’s day, hut there still! remains a reasonable motive for loyalty dn all the associations of its past and of its present. And if Divinity no longer hedges a King so closely as it once did, there must bo some compensation in the personal popularity of the present Royal Family. Throughout the Empire their domestic virtues, the simplicity of their lives, and the splendour of their position have combined to inspire the warm affection Vhich human goodness never fails to win, in whatever rank of life it is found. The sentiment is akin to what we feel for illustrious writers or military heroes, in whose character “the fierce light” of fame has revealed only the most loveable traits. The true AngloSaxon has always regarded his King, not as a divine delegate, with irresponsible authority, but as Milton regarded Cromwell, as the “chief of men.” When once the supernatural theory of monarchy was abandoned, the King became again what he had been in the days of Alfred, the representative of his people, chosen and accepted by them, and beloved according to the manner in which he played his part. New that all attempts at Absolutism are over, the Sovereign enjoys a far larger share of public affection an<i confidence than he did before. The enthusiastic reception given to the Duke during his present tour pledges even the most distant colonies to the loyal support of the Throne. \

There is another aspect from which, we may regard to-day’s celebrations. We are ourselves on view. It so happens that, among all the colonies, New Zealand alone has never before- been visited by the “ Sailor Prince.” In our decorations and festivities we are showing the pride and pleasure we feel in our own city. Bach town has done its best to make a favourable impression on the Royal party., Auckland has its natural beauties and its romantic associations with the Maori race, and Wellington is our colonial capital; bub Christchurch has some associations of its own, that may touch a deeper chord in those we expect to find the most British of all Britons. The travellers can hardly fail to be moved in finding at the Antipodes, amongst scene® so strange and new as the, northern towns and the Rotorua Wonderland, one spot reflecting again the features of the Motherland. In our Cathedral and) ivy-clad college, in our gardens and parks, and in our lanes and country roads, our, guests will see a miniature 'England, made by the love and toil of the first- pilgrims’ and of those who idlowed them 1 .

Christchurch and its neighbourhood,! have a charm of their own, no less distinctive than the wilder attractions of the north. Perhaps only colonials can fully appreciate the intense affection for their own home felt by those who, from their childhood, have watched it growing out of the wilderness of tussock plain, and flax-swamp, and sand-hill. In contributing to the pleasure and beauty of today’s display, Christchurch citizens are proving their loyalty to their own town and to the colony at large. It is of the greatest advantage that our future Sovereign should come ajnongst us, and leam to, understand his people. There may no longer bo any danger of such a blunder as the one that caused the American War of Independence, but 'there are often causes'of friction between a ruler and his subjects that can be removed only by a • close acquaintance. The Royal pair will acquire, by their .visit, a knowledge of Greater Britain which they could never have obtained second-hand. It is all these causes combined that make us glad to give up to-day to public rejoicing. For the -sake of our Constitution, for our Royal guests themselves, and fo£ our own colony and town we are firing our camion, ringing our bells, decorating our streets and lighting our bonfires. Once again we feel as we did when the Imperial Contingent visited pur shores, that we are all, great and small, members of one federation, one race and one. Empire.