The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25 00:00:00

THE ROYAL TITLES BILL.
(From Monday's Times.)
" Anglo-Indian " writes to us :-- -

"I am told that the word 'Queen' is unpronounceable b
the people of India ; and those who tell me so tell me o
an Honourable Colonel Campbell, formerly in India
who insisted always on being called Houourable 'as well
as 'Colonel,' and who was, in consequence, always called
by the natives ginrumbletumcumble Sahib.' But surely
the people who can shout Qui-Hi? ' can easily learn to
articulate the word 'Queen." While in the Queen's pro-
clamation of 1868 the word Queen "was generally translated
by Malika " and by " Sultana 'at Aden, and 'Maharanee 'ln
some parts of India, it was rendered untranslated as' Kween'
In the Malay and some Deccanee dialects: and the late Rao
of Kutch coinea in the name of K-y-n' Victoria —a spelling
which would be pronounced almost like Q-u-e-e-n. We do
not attempt to translate in India the titles of the Viceroy
and Governor-GeneraL' It would be absurd to call him the
Nizam eol-Moolk,' and, I think, equally absurd to translate
either 'Queen' or 'Empress' by Padishah.' All that is
necessary is to add to Her Majesty's titles that of Queen of
India, and to leave the title untranslated. But those who
object to Empress 'and Emperor should do so simply on
the ground that it is an ma-English, outlandish, not home-
spun, word It is a matter of race, sentiment, and pride, and
not of Constitutional law or historical precedent or philology.
There is nothing unconstitutional in the title of Em-
peror. It is not even a regal title, lrit plain
Republican. Circero was Cicero Lmperator,' as were all
the Roman Consuls Augustus Cesar, who was Imperator,
refused the title of Romulus lest he should be suspected of
aspiring to that of Rex. He refused even the title of
Dominus—Lord Protector as we might say—because in
Rome a slaveholder was entitled Dominus. It was the
title of Caesar, assumed by the Roman Imperatore, which
really conferred on them what we now understand by Im-
perial dignity and power; and the Kaisers and Czars (if the
latter word really comes from Ctesar ') did a very stupid
thing when they assumed the name of Emperors. It
is said, 'But you speak of the British Empire and of
the Imperial Parliament and Imperial Crown of England.'
In strict accuracy there can be no Empire and nothing Im-
perial without an Emperor. An Empire is the dominion of
an Emperor or Empress, and but that the Crown of Eng-
land has been constituted an Imperial Crown, the use of the
word Empire for the British commonwealth or republic,
and of Imperial for the Parliament of the three estates of
the United Kingdom, would be as ignorant and vulgar as the
use of the word Metropolis—and from it Metropelitan—fo
London. Sir George Campbell seemed to deny that the great
Moguls were Emperors. D) we not always speak of the
first six Emperors of Delhi 'or Mogul Emperors,' and do we
ever speak of the first six great Moguls'? If Mr. Disraeli
and Mr. Gladstone would only consult together, and call to
their assistance the Poet Laureate and the author (Mr. W.
Morris) of the translation of Virgil's I feel certain
that they would give us a revised recital of the Royal style
of England—including the Colonies as well as India—which
would satisfy all English-speaking folk, and the nations sub-
ject to them, throughout the world."

"Lion Rampant" writes to us
"May I suggest that the purpose of the Royal Titles Bill
would be perfectly fulfilled and all opposition conciliated by
the assumption of the title of "Queen Paramount? " The
history of these islands and of the East furnishes instances
of Kings who have held a paramount authority over other
Kings, and there is no necessity to resort to the word Em-
peror to express that idea. If, as has been suggested, our
Royal F,mil3 find themselves placed in a positi-in lower than
their (Agility demands at Courts where the title of Emperor
has been assumed, it may be put down as the result of the
pretentious ignorance of the officials of those Courts,
and any vexation may be avoided by their abstain-
ing from going there under such conditions, or cor-
rected by putting their Royal families in the position they
ought to till when they come within our dominions."
Mr. John Drummond writes to us :

"I have served in her Majesty's Army in India for some
years, many of my nearest relations having done so for nearly
half a century; therefore, without presumption, I may be
expected to know something of the character of the Indians,
their habits of thought and prejudices, both Hindus and
Mahomedans. if 'Empress' is introduced into the Royal
Titles the people of India will not understand it. If there
Is one iota of difference in the title borne in England and
that in India, the natives will ask why it is so; they will not
like it, and will probably put a wrong construction on it. If
our gracious Sovereign's titles were simply thus—' Queen of
Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colonies and Dependen-
cies thereof, and of India,' a greater honour would be con-
ferred on India than it has ever received sine the founda-
tion of the world, and the very assimilation of the word
with that used in England would delight and gratify all
Indians alike."

"A loyal but puzeled Englistmen " writes :

"I have not noticed that any question has been asked in
the House of Commons or been discussed by the Press re-
specting the sentiments of the Governments of France and
Portugal as to our Sovereign's assumption of a title implying
superiority to all the other rulers of India."

"A Peer" also writes to The Times :

"The suggestion which you have made several times In
The Titnes, that the new title of the Queen should be Soy,
-
reign Lady, appears to me to be very good. Grandly simple,
it expresses, I believe, as well as it is possible to do so in
English, her Majesty's position in regard to the Princes, the
people, and the Government. All that would seem to be re-
quired is to make the form quite complete by inoludifig in
it the Colonies, drc., which I beg to suggest might be done
In the following manner :—' Victoria, by the grace of God of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of
each Colony, Dependency. or Dominion forming part of the
(British) Empire, Queen, Defender of the Faith, and Sove•
reign Lady of India.' Reference to the Colonies, &s., being
proposed to be made only in a general way, any future change
either in their designation or in their relation to this country
would, so far as it is oonneeted with the &hive term, present
no future difficulty."