The Imperial Humbug.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 276, 21 March 1889, Page 3

The Imperial Humbug.

MORE TWADDLE AND GUSH OVER IT. London, March 14. The Prince of Wales presided at the Imperial Institute banquet held last night, at which three hundred were present. In proposing toast of “ Prosperity to the Institute,” the Prince of Wales said that he regretted that want of time and opportunity prevented him visiting Australia. He felt the deepest interest in the welfare of the colonies, however, and said he thought it was the duty of every British statesman to visit the colonies. His Royal Highness said he believed that the establishment of the institute had greatly assisted in bringing about an improved feeling between the colonies and the mother country. While he hoped the proposed amalgamation of the Colonial and Imperial Institutes would soon be brought about, he disclaimed any desire on the part of the latter to absorb the former.

In the course of a speech, in which he proposed the “ Army and Navy,” His Royal Highness said he recognised in the efforts made by the Colonies in defence matters, not only a desire to protect themselves, but to assist in the protection of the Empire. The Duke of Cambridge responded for the army, and Lord Charles Beresford for the navy. Earl Carnarvon proposed “ The United Empire,” and m the course of his speech, said no one desired to precipitate a closer union between Great Britain and tbe Colonies, or in any respect to curtail the autonomy of the latter. Lord Knutsford, in replying to the toast, said he was convinced that there was much beyond mere sentiment binding the Colonies to Great Britain. Brisbane, March 14. Sir B. Somers Vine is actively engaged on his mission to explain to the people of the Colonies the objects and aims of the Imperial Institute. He slates that the Prince of Wales desired him to thank the Colonies for their munificent contributions to the lustitute.

The reign of humbug! The Prince of Wales at the Imperial Destitute] H.B.H. said he believed tbe establishment of the Destitute had greatly assisted in bringing about an improved feeling between the colonies and the Mother Country ] Well, if he believes that, he can believe anything 1' It is not very easy to cause ill-feeling between the colonies and the Mother Country, but if anything could do so, it would be auoh tomfooleries as the Imperial Destitute; Nothing ever before gave the people in the colonies such a feeling of contempt for Royalty as the way the Prince of Wales and his ring have run this miserable begging importers ] Il's been pretty low, hasn't it ? The way money was raised for it was simply diigraoeful i The sale of K.O.M.G.'s alone was enough to disgust all decent colonists with it I You don't mean leading colonists 7 No, I said decent colonists,—.colonists with a respect for their country 1 Then the impudent way in which the hat was sent round in the Jubilee year, was sickening I In fact, the whole affair has been a degrading exhibition of bad form I Don’t you think the leading colonists and other nuisances who fluttered and diddled the Prince of Wales into getting the thing up, are more to blame than he is ? Much more 1 The Prince has simply been made a tool of by a gang of jobbers and toadies ! But still that's no excuse for him 1 He must have known perfectly well what their game was 1 The trouble is that he never gets the truth told him I These crawlers take uncommon good care that the Prince never learns what people are really saying and thinking about it I They gammon him that the Destitute is tremendously popular everywhere and that the colonists are brimming over with gratitude to him for having started it! Well, let’s hope he’ll knock the old fraud on the head ! Ab, dear boy, I’m afraid that’s past praying for 1 The Prince of Wales has a quality very strongly developed, which is good or bad according to the circumstances 1 If he once takes a thing up, he goes bang through with it, no matter whether it ends in a grand success or an almighty smash! You’ll find he’ll run this show till he makes the most hideous mess of it, or until some good angel comes forward to take it off his hands and turn it into something sensible “ Puff ”