The sun., 1908-01-26
LEsE MAJEsTE IN ENGLANR


FROM Pa@rp0n'e Woakiv.
Many people blissRulIy imagine that less
crime peculiar 20 foreign countries and un-
known In free and happy Britain That
however. 10 where they make q mistake.
There are all sorts Of pains and penalties
on the statute book relative to peculiar British
forms OF lAss majestic Many Of them have
fallen into oblivion or abeyance owing to
one cause or another. but they could still be
enforced II those in high places claimed all
they are strictly entitled TO do.
It is for instance. technically q punishable
offence to stick o penny stamp on q letter
upside down. Doing so Is to insult the King
through his eftisy. and few centuries ago
supposing penny stamps TO have been then
invented-mlght easily have landed the
offender In prison on charge OF seeking TO
bring ridiCule on the sovereign. or TO express
contempt for his authority by causing his
picture to stand on its head.
Also it In a punishable offence 20 detacs
q coin Of the realm bearing the royal image
and then deliberately put it into circulation
again.
Any private individual who audaciousIy
hoisted the royal standard over his dwelling
would get into serious trouble. He would
be peremptorily ordered to take II down and
abjectly apologize. and II he escaped heavy
fine would have to thank his Majesty'S for
bearance for his good luck. The royal stand
ity, to be displayed only where he Is per-
sonally present, and for a subject to hoist it
ls nominally equivalent to high treason. Tha
union Jack. as the flag of the nation, IL a
diner thing altogether. and can be dis
played by anybody.
II Is p0pularIy supposed that in this country
a man can get up and say whatever he likes
about the sovereign with impunity. This l.
true only within strictly defined limits.
Socialist orator can publicly denounoe chs
theoretical evils OF monarchcal institutions
and announce a decided preference for re-
public. and nobody can touch him.
But II he once began to speak insultinglv
or slightingly Of the King personally he would
be at once run in" or at least enectually
suppressed by the nearest policeman.
To strike the King would. according to the
strict letter Of the law. render the assaiIanE
liable to the death penalty no matter how
triinR the blow was In reality
Lieut.. Pape. who is usually reckoned among
those who attempted the life OF the late Queen
Victoria. could not have actually contem-
plated murder. He had no iethal weapon in
his possession at the time OF the outrage. but
he struck her Majesty across the face with his
walking stick. This was sufficient TO bring
him within the shadow Of the soafold. He
was condemned to death and would have
been hanged had his sentence not been oom-
muted.
Apart from direct methods Of committing
lese majestic in EnRland--and the foregoing
does not by any means exhaust the list-thS
unwary subjects can be guilty OF the offence
In more roundabout way.
It is lese majestic to bring the Kings uniform
into contempt. Members OF theatrical com
panies who have appeared on the stage "a
comic characters attired in discarded military
or naval uniforms have occasionally been
unpleasantly reminded OF this fact Careful
stage managers put themselves on the safe
side by seeing that no uniform. whether To
be worn by the hero. villain or low comedian
OF the piece. is an exact copy OF the real uni
form OF any branch OF his MaJesty's forces.