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To: royalcello

Oh dear!

Well, certainly there is nothing wrong with a properly functioning monarchy. Most of Northern Europe have retained theirs, and they are generally quiet and nice places.

However, European-style right wingers are not monarchists, not anymore. Mostly, they are fascists, not even Bonapartists (there being none of them that have even a modicum of Buonaparte's indisputable genius).

You think France needs a King?
Certainly a monarchy in the modern model, which provides great continuity in ceremonial affairs of state and particularly in philanthropy and patronage is a boon to any nation. But you seem to actually desire a monarch who not only reigns, but rules.

It is difficult to imagine the Duc d'Orleans in this role, and even more difficult to imagine the French ever taking him seriously. And what would the enforcement mechanism be for a King nobody respected or believed in?

France, like America, is past that. There is too much water under the bridge for a restoration.

Besides, the most dramatic difference between a monarchy and a republic is not the head of state, who is ever-powerful no matter the system, but the next tier. Monarchy entails nobility. A restoration of the rule of the nobility would be exceedingly pleasant, for the nobility. I would imagine that the chiefs of grand enterprises, and private landowners, might have a different view of this.

For if we are to restore Catholic and Royal France, we will not be installing Russia and an absolute despotism, but nor will we be retaining a free market. We will, rather, be reinstalling a system of hereditary ownership of the land, one in which you yourself will be a vassal of someone.

We might all serve the King, but you will also serve me.
The idea of serving the King may sound pleasant.
The idea of also serving me as your Lord you might find considerably more disagreeable.


60 posted on 02/19/2006 6:33:31 PM PST by Vicomte13 (Une Foi, une Loi, un Dieu, un Roi!)
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To: Vicomte13
I admit that neither "Henri VII" nor "Louis XX" are ideal candidates for the throne, and that this is a problem for French royalists. Nevertheless it is traditional French royalists (who do exist, by the way!) with whom I sympathize. The point is to promote the theoretical ideal of monarchy as an integral part of European culture, even if restoration currently seems implausible.
61 posted on 02/19/2006 6:39:55 PM PST by royalcello
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To: Vicomte13; ninenot; sittnick; steve50; Hegemony Cricket; Willie Green; Wolfie; ex-snook; FITZ; ...
And what would the enforcement mechanism be for a King nobody respected or believed in? France, like America, is past that. There is too much water under the bridge for a restoration.

This is a very interesting topic. I hope others will join and contribute.

I will make a few points:

1.

I think that whether republic or monarchy is better is depends on the changing character of the society.

So it would be inappropriate and harmful to try to introduce monarchy in Rome of 2nd century BC or in XIX century USA. And it would not be a good idea to try to introduce republic in the same Rome of 3rd/4th century after Christ (at the time of Diocletian) or in XV century England.

For each system there is good time and place.

2.

"Going back" to the previous system is usually impossible. BUT IT IS POSSIBLE to get it again in a NEW (often disguised) form by going toward future.

Roman Republic started same way as United State - by revolution against the monarchy. Romans were very passionate about their republic and did not take kindly any talk about return of the king.

But after several centuries they got monarchy through the BACK DOOR. When their republic become powerful and dominated other Mediterranean societies it became necessary to develop monarchical practices in order to manage the Empire (what was the ancient name for the International Community or system of alliances with Rome being the hegemon).

3.

Still it was not perceived by the majority of Romans - long time after Caesar they believed that they are free citizens and that they have the republican system.

Some of the first emperors tried to restore the republic but they could not go against the needs of the time. They could not overcome the natural law that for each society at specific time there is a natural system or state of equilibrium.

Of course, when the given system is firmly established the general public is convinced that it it the best and universal system for everybody and for ever. People usually cannot imagine different world than the one in which they live and they take appearances for reality.

4.

It is likely that the only way to preserve the American republic is to reduce foreign involvements. I think that Buchanan is very aware of this dynamic and he is a true republican. But if the history is to be repeated he will fail like Cato and Brutus did.

See my tagline.

64 posted on 02/19/2006 7:10:57 PM PST by A. Pole (Heraclitus: "Nothing endures but change.")
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