Vice-Regal Saint: The Press get their Baron
The hitherto Canadian press baron, Lord Conrad Black of Crossharbour, was sentenced to prison yesterday in a Chicago court. The Wellingtonian glee in many quarters of the English-speaking world will no doubt be palpable, though not in this one. We don't much like this Waterloo.
Like Churchill, that once ageing Victorian romantic, Lord Black is looked upon incorrigibly as an anachronism. Hence our undinted admiration for the man. His Lordship has been a catalyst for royalist affection. 
No more throne speeches or parliamentary pomp for a while. Lord Black has been sentenced to more than six years in an American prison, pending appeal.
A six million dollar fine will also entail some tightening of the belt.
But not a tightening of the ego. The man is impervious to fear. Prime ministers, shareholders, journalists, the American justice system - all will come under his formidable fury. 
And all will tremble under his garrulous verbosity. "Expunge this oleaginous acervation of pusillanimous sebaceous putridity from the proximity of our eschatological mentations!!!"
M'Lud will seek an understanding with his peers, lest they have any plans to banish him from their esteemed membership.
He will descend upon his treasonous business partner with a terrible vengeance the likes of which has never been seen.
And he will reach out to the peasantry with all his considerable personal charm, munificence and patrician demeanor.
Yes he understands the inclination of some to view him as a "medievalist poltroon with satin breeches, a powdered whig and an ermine collar". But he will reach out to them too.
As well as to his home and native land, even though they have "a sadistic desire corroded by soul-destroying envy, to intimidate all those who might aspire to anything the slightest exceptional." And Canada will return the favour because Canada warmly embraces all those who have fallen from their station in life. That's why Canada is great.
His Lordship may not forgive former Prime Minister Jean Chretien for vindictively blocking his peerage and making him renounce his citizenship, but he forgives the press for deriding him as "Lord Almost", "His Lardship" and "Lord Tubby of Fleet". Let no one underestimate the man's grace and generosity of spirit.
"No, we are not, strictly speaking, 'friends of Conrad Black.' We are simply admirers of the man, beneficiaries in the broadest sense of his commitment to excellence, and - dare we say - fans of his indomitable style. Whatever transpires in the life of His Lordship over the next few years, he shall remain a blazing beacon of hope to those of us on this dull and dreary northern plain."
Posts
1915.jpg){kind=small}
.gif)
.gif)
10 comments:
As I have stated previously:
Whilst admiring his many gifts and talents, one cannot deny that he engaged in serious malfeasance.
Thus, as an admirer of the Mixed Constitution and a Social Stratification based on Good Works and Service, I cannot see how publicising admiration for the now convicted Lord Black helps the Monarchist cause.
In fact, I do believe that it hurts the cause.
The less said of this the better.
I doubt there'll be any more posts on Conrad Black.
What's all this about "the Monarchist cause" that we keep on hearing in the comments? Particularly as a justification for not saying something, or posting something?
Are we really a colourless political action commitee? Are we really to calculate the political expediency of everything we write or display? Are we really only interested in being a kind of single-issue pressure group - and not, rather, a kindly refuge of all things old and great and noble in a hostile and grotty world, a solitary, fire-lit inn, where all who crave substantial goodness can repair?
Do we really need to worry about the kind of weak-hearted people who might turn their backs on the Crown because of a post or comment that doesn't tickle them? Were they ever very stout allies in the first place?
scott:
Point taken, but this is a pro-Monarchy Blog - and NOT a pro-Aristocracy regardless-of-their shortcomings blog. Lord Black has a long history of shady dealings in Canada, and to continue to hold him as an exemplar of some sort of Monarchist virtue does disservice to Her Majesty and to - yes, I said it - the cause we all hold on to and revere so dearly.
I have no doubt that Lord Black exemplified many of the virtues we have come to associate with the traditional grandee, but his seemingly long record of ethical lapses - going back to his days at UCC - make him someone who the republicans point to and say "see?"
While we should never cower in fear, we should remain somewhat circumspect about the company we keep and extol.
To a great extent Lord Beaverbrook (the first and genuine one ...) was a continual millstone around the neck of the Tory pary for many of the same reasons. I admire the man and his belief in Imperial Federation, but one cannot deny that his reputation hurt the cause to some degree.
The same goes for Lord Black of Crossharbour and the detestable and shallow Lady Black (who I once admired ...).
I've always felt we have to be very strict about supporting only those people who are 'pure of heart' as it were. Supporting corrupt and/or incompetant politicians or businessmen just because they label themselves conservative/traditionalist or are outspoken Monarchists does the cause of tradition, conservatism and Monarchy no good in the long run. On the contrary, their lack of integrity damaged the integrity of the 'movement'.
Lord Black is responsible for his own actions. He is not the only monarchist, there are many who don't have a shady past.
Post a Comment