The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-12

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father, IS the head Of the family. respect
cd by this title by his younger brothers
but considered always as a brother and
not as an official chief Since they are
brothers, the regent explains his plans to
the resident; the European official is even
bound to take the advice of the native Of
fetal when the interests of the native are
involved; che younger brOthA is the init
mate adviser of the older brother in all
cases where the latter ought TO he en-
lightened as to the condition of the people;
but when the resident has made up rs
mind on the advice Of the regent the lat
ter as a duhful younger brother, ought 10
submit.
The regent who has only the semblance
of power has as compensation an the ex-
ternal marks which would impress the
multitude; in order that he may keep up
his rank and keep up the luxury Of an
Asiatic court he is better paid than the
resident himself he ranks above all the
European officials except the resident; he
is surmounted with the pomp of a prince.
holds a court in which the natives, even
Il members of his own family, approach
him only on their knees. has a numerous
suite, exercises control over the native
cmefs of the regency; in a word. in the
eyes OF the natives he Is their lord and
master. To this material authority is add
ed spiritual authority, for he is also their
high priest; more than that, he is their
Judge, for he is a member of the Land
raad (counciD. and presides at the court
OF the regency. You can see that the re-
gent is apparently everything. but it is
his elder brother who rules him. even
Whi.e treating him In public and in Dri-
Vate on a footing of perfect equality and
frank cordiahty. The regent would take
care not 10 disobey the Recommendations
OF his brother for he knows what 1t would
cost him, appointed by the government.
he knows that he will be kept in Office
only on condition Of pleasing The govern
ment.
Relic of the EeudaI Regime.
The regent is always chosen from the
mobiles, who before the conquest GOVERN
ed the district in the name of the native
ruler. The last vestige of the feudal re-
CINE, which fourished in Java in the past
ages, he descends in direct line from fine
vassals of the ancient kingdom of ATata-
ram. The Dutch have reduced the power
Of these mobiles, while leaving them their
prestige, which they use to serve their
plans, and il is by their assistance that
they introduced their famous system Of
cultivation, TO which they gained them by
giving them possession OF the soil. To
keep them better under control they grant
ed TO them heredity in the transmission of
power, thus treating with respect a prin-
ciple which has prevailed in Java from
time immemorial. They comprehend that
the natives would much more docilelv al
low themselves to be governed by a regent
OF exalted lineage, known and respected in
the country, than by an official chosen
from the lower classes or taken from a
distant province. AS much as possible the
ancient divisions of the country have been
preserved so that the authority of the
regent extends over the same territory and
the same populations as that under the
control of his ancestors. He has the in
come of the lands which belonged to his
charge. But in spite of all the pomp and
all the dignities which are attached to his
rank, in spite of all the influence due to
his being prince, he is under the exter-
mails of native rajah, only a saaried en-
poye of the Dutch government; when he
dies, his son is ordinarily called to sue
coed him. out of respect for the hereditary
rule; but this is not a matter of right.
and the government which appoints this
official can also remove him.
One of the most interesting character
istics of the Dutch policy is the wisdom
with which IL has known how to respect
the Importance which the natives attribute
to rank and pomp. The first clause to
which the regent submits himself in TAX
ing the oath of Office Is that in which he
expressly promises to observe the DEGREES
relative to these special questions, and to
treat the natives according to their rank.
The Dutch in this respect do not profess
the disdain which the English and French
affect. They concede that they must re-
gard the ideas of the natives, not from
the European point of view, but the native
point of view: they officially recognize the
Importance of these questions and wisely
leave the regulations of them to the ma
tives themselves.
A Native Hierarchy.
Parallel to the hierarchy of the European
officials, there is whole hierarchy of ma
tive officials. Just as the resident has under
his orders assistant residents and control
lers, 30 the regent has for subordinates
wedonos, assistant wedonos and mantries.
Each regency Is divided into districts, which
are administered by a wedono. This chief
of the district is, like the regent, a native
of good family, and he is. like him, sala-
ried by the government, but he is elected
by the native community, subject to the
approval of the resident. He is charged
with the police of the district and executes
the orders OF the regent; he prosides at
the district court; every month he ac-
companies the controller in his tour of in
spection, and the latter indicates what
improvements should be made. The we
dono is assisted by the chiefs, who have
the title mantries, and whom he selects
Of he 1a,+