The Washington herald., 1911-08-20

scotland, the coronation ceremonies
In Great Britain came to an end
There remaips. however. the great
oversee, function, the imperial durbar
at Delhi, which this time will create
new record in Oriental mag
nificance. AS Orfentals, like other
people, are fond of spectacular shows,
the impression left on the minds Of the
East Indians, natives, or otherwise, will
spectacular display Is needed if this oc-
casion is to be turned to good account
for the benefit of the empire. The ques-
tion how this Is to be done Is engaging
the attention Of the British government.
There is a tradition. coming down from
the dawn Of history, IN the Orient, that
the Kings face should show grace"
and that coronation should be the oc-
casion OF some great boon to be bestowed
upon the people. The Anelo-Indian govern
ment has recognized this feeling In all
similar previous occasions, but IL must
be admitted that the attempts of the
government to fulfll the popular expec-
tations have been marked with extraor-
dinary ineptitude and want Of imagina-
ton. The usual official idea is to fe-
lease criminals from the various jails be-
fore their sentences expire. There is no
particular harm in this, but what Is
wanted, especially on this occasion, is
royal boon which would strike the vivid
Oriental Imagination; and the idea that
the prospect of the enterprising burglar
being restored to society at somewhat
earlier period than he ought to have
been will kindle the enthusiasm of vast
Eastern people is one that could hardly
be conceived, except In a government
office. and by government officials.
Something more than this is plainly
needed, and there are two obvious acts
Of grace, which. IL announced at the dur
bar might open fresh epoch in In
dian history.
The first is the modification of the ILL
omened partition of Bengal. This policy
now has hardly any defenders. Lord
like to II. andS II is greatly to be re-
gretted that HIS official tirlidity prevented
him from dealing with II during his
term OF office. Even Lord Curzon, the
reputed author of the act, as us well
known, has sough. to avoid the respon-
sibility for 1t on the ground that he
never went there. Although less Is heard
now of their agitation, the Bengalese's
sense of grievance is as acute as ever.
There is no administrative difficulty in
the way of the proposed concession.
1t may be admitted that the Presidency
OF Bengal was too large for a lieutenant
governor, but all that is necessary Is to
carry out that which had actually been
Intended, II not promised some sixty
years ago, namely. that there should be
a governor-in-council for this most an
Client of British Indian provinces. and
that the outlying provinces, such as AS
sam and Behar and others. should have
commissioners with powers Of local
government, as is done in the case of
Sind. in the Bombay presidency. The adj
ditional expense would be small, admin
istrative efficiency would be improved.
and the present privileged position of
the Mohammedans IN Eastern Bengal is
a matter capable of easy adjustment, SO
as to create no grievance. II this action
on behalf of the King Emperor were an
at the coronation durbar. 1t
is mo- exaggeration to say that feelings
of Intense relief and loyalty would be
created in a vast province now seethfng
with political unrest. It seems so OBJ
viousIy the right thing to do that it is
difficult to imagine that the thing could
be advised to take any other course.
There is one thing more. IT is in ac-
cordance with the traditions of imperial
power that pardon should be extended to
some offenders against fthe state. Let
the King release all political prisoners.
not those convicted OF any actual crime.
paper editors, teachers, and the like,
convicted of se6ition. BY this means
there is good ground for hoping that a
new spirit might be created which would
go far to wipe out the memory of the
last few years. and all the bitterness and
disloyalty that have distinguished them.
Then, indeed. the coronation might be
the beginning of a new epoch. as far
reaching in its effects as the proclama-
i'm. nf he at he hner nnir, nf
imperial rule.
Sir Francis E. w. Macnaghten, VINO
died last month, was the head of a
very ancient Scotch family, being the
chief of the clan Macnaghten. The then
head OF the family left Scotland at the
close of the seventeenth century and
settled in the north of Ireland. In the
Middle Ages one chief went to Jerusa-
lem on pilgrimage with the heart OF
Robert the Bruce, and another was killed
In the battle of Flodden Field. Sir Fran
els distinguished himself in the Crimea
and also during the Indian mutiny but
for the past forty years devoted himself
to public work. He rendered valuable
services to County Antrim, of which he
had been lord lieutenant since 1890. Es-
pecially in Ulster he was highly esteemed.
The late prince and Duke de Wagram,
who was the grandson OF Berthier, the
famous marshal and chief of staff of the |
first Napoleon, was the owner of the |
Grosbois estates, which by Louis XVIII |
had been offered to the Duke of yelling
ton after the restoration of the Bourbons |
10 the throne of France. But the Iron |
Duke refused to accept the gift yelling |
ton, with characteristic common sense, |
declared that 1t was out of the question |
for him to receive an estate in France /
from the French King because he had |
the French army In order to put l
that king on the throne.
The late prince was the husband OF
Baroness Bertha Claire de 'Rothschild. a |
daughter of the Frankfort branch of the |
great Jewish financial dynasty of that /
name Her son. who has now succeeded 4
TO the titles and estates as the fourth |
prince and Duke of Wagram, neverthe- |
less has in his veins the blood of the /
the rulers of Bavaria, for \
Napoleon secured for his most favored |
and most famous of hts generals royal |
bride, the Duchess Marie of Bavaria, a |
near relative of the late Empress Eliza
beth of Austria.
Marshal Berthier was the hero of the |
amous battle OF wagram, which subdued /
he Austrians. but like Marshal Ney he
lad deserted the Emperor when he was /
compelled to flee to Elba.s Berthier al |
owed himself to be persuaded by his /
wife and by her royal relatives at Mu- |