New-York tribune., 1903-01-01
DELHI,

The imperial durbar at DEM. winch tdhe9
place to-day. is probably as spectacle uh-
rivalled in the world in modern times 1t may
not be the greatest gathering in size. London,
Paris, Berlin and New-York have probably seen
greater multitudes assembled, to celebrate a
soYereigns jubilee, to welcome a victorious
warrior or to pay final homage to the illustrious
dead The Delhi durbar. however, is large
enough to be imposing from that point of view,
while it has such qualities of color and form
and picturesque variety as no European or
American pageant can hope to rival. "Barharic
splendor' is the phrase, approved by usage,
with which it's glores are to be described
There may be some question Of the proprlety
of applying the former word to the present
phases of one of the oldest and once one of the
highest civilizations in the world. OF the MT
ness of the latter there can be no question. The
pageant is splendid. gorgeous, magnlhcenf TO
a degree which it would be difficult to describe
and all but impossible to exaggerate
1t is, however, more than splendid spec
tacle. Its significance rivals its splendor we
mean its practical significance as "a manifesto
ton of imperial authority and of governmental
genius 1t is a remarkable thing, probably un-
paralleled in the history of the world, that the
hundreds of millions of Indians including some
puissant warrior races, should for generation
after generation submit themselves, not merely
humbly but Loyalty and gladly, to the rule of
a few tens of millions of Englishmen; or to that
Of the few thousand representatives of these
latter. This durbar is visible and concrete
demonstration of that fact. 1t is also one of
the things that go to make that fact fact and
to perpetuate it, for the Oriental mind is as
much impressed by splendor as Oriental man
ners and customs lend themselves to its display.
will Jo fo
firm and strengthen the rule of King Edward
as Emperor of India-far more than we, in
more practical ways of life, can easily appreci-
ate
It must, indeed, be added that the durbar is
also certain vindication of the British title to
sovereignty over India. The government that
bring such order now exists out of the
chaos which formerly existed in that country
in that very achievement establishes its title
to authority. In the German Empire there are
some two dozen and one kings, princes. grand
dukes and dukes but their Emperor is only
one of their number chosen by their suffrages,
and they are all of one blood and one tongue.
In Austria there are nearly score of Diets,
but only one ruling sovereign in all the land.
But In this durbar princes are numbered by
hundreds, and they all give allegiance to an
emperor of alien blood and tongue and fesi-
dence Among them are hereditary foes enc
mics in creed and enemies in blood. who of old
were never weary in waging wars against one
another. To-day. as for many year they
march shoulder to shoulder under the common
standard of the Kaiser-i-Hind. He is the one
link that unites them. He is the one element
that preserves order where without it there
would he anarchy.
This stately pageant just outside the storied
walls OF the old Mogui capital is thus far more
than a perfunctory proclaimiDg of Edward VII
as Emperor of India. 1t is practical conf1rma-
ton of the rule which holds Sikh and Ghoorka,
Rajput and Mahratta, Pathan and Bengali.
Punjabi and Parsee, Hindoe and Moslem all to-
gether in peace and harmony. and which so
adapts itself to the individual passions and
predictions of each one as to make itself &C.
ceptabie and benefcent to all. 1t would be too
much to say that British rule in India is free
from faults, and from grave faults. But when
consider the complexity of the task and the
number and magnitude of the difficulties which
beset 1t, we must confess that such success as
has been attained by it is worthy to rank
among the governmental wonders of the world.