The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-05
VISIT TO INDIA WILL
STRENGTHEN HIS RULE
ny Ia MARoulsE DE FoNrENoY.

BY LA MARauisE DE FONTENOY. ,
LING GEORGES announcement that
N he will proceed to India in
the fall of next year, with
Queen Mary, in order to hold a
great durbar at Delhi on the open
ing day Of the year 1912, appeals to
the imagination, not only of his lieges
to foreign nations. George and his
consort have already visited India as
Prince and Princess of Wales. But
this will be the first occasion of an
India since the latter became subject
to the British crown.
Nor can / recall any instance OF
European sovereign making royal
dependencies. subject to his rule. Ma
poleon III. visited Algeria. in state, and
his sojourn there. though brief served
% TO oya hs up to the that natse e
chiefs and population to such degree
that when the war with Germany
broke out, in 1870, Algeria remained
loyal to France. instead OF taking adj
vantage of the lattey's misfortunes 10
secure her own freedom.
And King John OF Portugal, when
he visited Brazil. became SO Fascinated
thereby and won to such an extent
he declined to return home. and con
tributed in no small degree to tho
separation of Brazil from the mother
country, and to the establishment OF
the rule OF his favorite son. Dom
Pedro.
King. George and Queen Mary's visit
to India next fall cannot fail TO
pire. the possession of which, with its
300.o00.000 of people of hundreds of
different races and creeds. contributes
so greatly to the Importance. the power
The people of India, until now. have
been restricted to seeing Governors
and Viceroys, as the personification OF
England's sovereignty-mere officials.
subject to orders from London, ana
liable at any moment to be overriden
and even recalled. In what, to an Orb
entail mind, appears disgrace. True.
members of the British royal family,
as, for instance. when King Edward
was in India as Prince of Wales in
1s75-1S7G, and when the Duke ana
Duchess of Connaught We're present at
January ]. 1908. on which occasion,
however. Lord Curzon, as Niceroy. In
sisted upon having the pas" of the
royal duke. greatly to the amazement
January J., 1912, will. however. AFFORD
| the princes and the people OF India
| the opportunity Of coming face to face,
not with their Emperors representa-
tive, or with any more princes OF his
house, but with the Kaisar-i-Hind HIM
self.
1t may be as we'll TO explain right
here that there will be no coronation
ceremony at the durbar. The stories
that the King and Queen intend to
have themselves crowned as emperor
and Empress of India at Delhi are
without foundation. coronations are
| Tf.I1
would not be understood in India,
where the reign of sovereign, great
or small. suzerain or vassal. is always
| solemnly inaugurated by means OF
durbar. The principal object Of these
various vassals and lieges of the new
ruler to offer their allegiance and TO
| pay their homage.
months hence, all the native rulers Of
India subject to the su2erainty or to
the sovereignty of the Kaisar-l-Hind,
will. with similar object In view. as
rayed in cloth Of gold and jewels OF
priceless value, attended by the princes
Of their house, the dignitaries Of their
| courts. and by their armed retainers,
that no other continent than Asia could
dream Of and that no part. Of Asia but
India could furnish. The durbar will
take place in the great horseshoe
|
lish and native heralds will proclaim
King George and Queen Mary as Ems
peror and Empress of India, AFTER
| which the act Of homage on the part
l of the yassal rulers Will take place,
one after the other, in accordance Win
| their rank.
The procession of all these princes
from Delhi and from the camps $, [, ana = {!
! Temporary townships in the vicinity
will furnish perhaps an even still more
i picturesque spectacle. with the huns
4 dreds OF state elephants. adorned Win
golden and jeweled trappings. OF pa az,
1 golden, ivory and silver howdahs. The
a British troops alone, taking part IN the
affair, will number over 10000 and y
may safely be taken Tor fra iran -, 'h tha
1 government and by the British author,
I tiles in India, to render this durbar o.
durbars memorable. by It's grandeur ano
u magniticence In the history u A'u'"
Il and of the world
y There Is one feature about these uur'
bars which Is Of particular importance o !,
and which invites reflection. Pri0r te
the establishment OF English rule n
India, ali its various nationalities were
!, forever at cruel and devas tating wal
with one another, England has com con,
PEELED them to remain at peace WIZ :
one another But for all that, there \
! little intercourse between them, and al
Lord Curzon. while Viceroy, once re-
marked, their states form n series o
4 distinct and separate from the re-
Il mainder. x durbar, such as that whiel
takes place at the end Of n :. =, year q !,
these nss different princes together, int It,
contact with one another under III,
1 nprresidency SO to speak. OF the Englisl
2 is' Tfhere is but one Of them who It may
$ safely, he assumed Will he absent ,',
namely. the Gaikwar Of Baroda. N!
latter, in, spite Of his great wealth. ! a =
oriein SO plebeian, and of a caste 81
i low, that nearly all the other prince g
/, of India among whom pre1udice Q
! caste, pride Of. birth, blueness q plop 2,
q and purity OF lineage are CARVED 70 IN
| eXtreme, look upon him almost IN. tn
! Light OF a pariah, whose very to tIi y
Is 1tnr "a