Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-15
gHAH AND SULTAN.

England has recently entertained two dis
tingushed representatives of what are classed as
"half civilized " countries. The term is to some
extent an arbitrary and unmeaning one, for such
races have not seldom produced true leaders in
the worlds affairs, but as whole it conveys a
we'll defined and Just idea Two such representa-
tives there have been within short space in
Europe-the Shah of Persia and the Sultan Of
Zanzibar-snd though we are told COM
parisons are odious, it ia impossible not
to institute them in this instance. The
Shah WAS the greater lion of these
two royal visitors but it is clear that only his i'm
mense wealth rendered him 30. In education
in manners, and in the simple instincts of digni-
fed manhood, the Persian ruler was far below
the Zanzibar monarch. The Shah ate with his
fingers and helped himself with the same natur-
al apparatus out of dishes upon royal tables
He spoke to the Emperor William Of that fat
old woman, '. referring to the Empress, and ex-
pressed surprise that his imperial brother did
not rid himself Of the incumbrance
by divorce or otherwise. In one way and
another he so scandalized al the Courts
he visited that they did not know
what to do with the potentate, and were
inexpressively relieved whom he departed for
his harems and his congenial viieness Queen
Victoria refused to meet him, notwithstanding
English hopes Of good things to be got out Of
Persia.
When 1t was announced that the Sultan Of
Zanzitor was to visit England there WAS good
deal of uneasiness among people who remem-
bered their frightful experience with the Shah.
But such fears have been most agreeably dis
o,r ta1 no Sultan ia of iptallant apd q
good degree of cultivation. He realizes
both the resources and the needs of his country,
and has worthy ambition to place Zanzibar in
the line of progress. He says he visits foreign
parts only to learn how to do his own land the
most good; to introduce living improvement
and labor, saving machines; in effect, to wholly
civilize his Empire. There ID something inexact
in terms when such man rests under the i'm
putation OF being half-cyilized," and a con-
siderable part of the most enlightened countries
OF the world are far below his mental and moral
stature. The sultan is a literary and art patron
has an extensive library, especially of works in
Arabic and is voracious reader of everything
that comes to hand, including newspapers, of
which he ia very fond. He has shown a keen
understanding Of English politics, and we know
what complicated study that is He is we'll
informed concerning English measures and men
and has an enthusiastic respect and affection
for the Queen. 1t may be believed therefore
that the Briton takes to him most kindly and is
doing penance for having, on account of the
Shah, mathematical all barbarians.
But if his Royal Highness thinks England is
such Wonderland he should come here. With
some Elijah Pogram, ''whose home ia in the
setting sun" he might be induced to throw the
aristocrats over and to reform Zanzibar on the
American method. At all events he has set the
world an example of a useful kind. Countries
are like individuals they must labor to improve
themselves or they will retrograde. There is nc
standing still in the rush of humankind.