The state herald., 1912-02-23

HE coronation ceremonies at
N tending the ascension of the
:, throne of his majesty, Masa
=. vajiravudh, Phra Mongkut
/. Il. Klao, king Of Siam, which have
4 zen completed, set another mile
nah the rapid march which Siam
mnting, and which has astonished
is notions Of the world. The fact
! g 8e great powers sent members
h TIT royal families to represent
mot the coronation is an evidence
~ ointerest and respect which they
D vetbr Siam.
0uootentatiously, without upheavai,
With amazing speed, the Siamese
I'D up the progressive ideas and
Bseot1ons Of the western powers. and
ip ~ a foreigner who journeys to
n u nGnok. the capital of the nation.
y md there railways. street cars,
,aiigo electric light and gas plants. tel
"a hose service. in fact all of the best
atures Of modern civilization.
: y"The new monarch. who has ascend
h. the throne under the most favor
IL circumstances, takes up his reign
IL The year 1870. according to the reck-
ling OF the Siamese, who reckon
40 years from the establishment OF
r . national capital OF Bangkok,
heir New Years day falls on April 1
the Gregorian calendar. Among
. special ambassadors sent to Siam
the coronation were: His serene
ghness Prince Alexander OF Teck,
:. u rs suite. representing Great Brit
n Dis imperial highness the Grand
uko Boris and suite. Russia: his
u1l highness Prince Waldcmar and
u 0ree sons. Denmark: his royal
4 lg1ness Prince William. duke OF Sud.
Dr Nanie. and suite. Sweden: his
Ighness Prince Fuhimi and suite.
I Apon, and his royal highness Prince
icholas. Greece.
n Much OF the credit for the rapid
tsvGDopment of Siam is due to the
ate King. Chulalongkorn. Phra Chula
lhem kloa, who was n man OF much
libility and who took the lead In the
doption of the best features of the
,sstern civilization. One matter
'vhtoh his late majesty insisted upon
,as the education OF the people OF
iiAm, and the new monarch is pro
,eeding along the same line. In con.
sQuence a system of public schools
Ia been established throughout the
ingdom and is maintained on high
lane.
The late king sent his son. who Is
,iov on the throne. to England. where
10 went through the military academy
"a oandhurst and was attached for
~ years to an English regiment. He
hon studied at Christs college. OK
or1 For many years II has been the
,eoetice OF Slam TO send 80 or "a
'ouDg men to European countries
la1 to the United States TO be
s1osatcd. As fast us they receive
tA education they are recalled 70
xon and their places filled by others
UD1n these men is falling a large
lhefe OF the work In undermining the
d13dom according to western idea.
DC government OF Siam Ia n be,
aovolent despotism. The steps which
haSe been taken for the benefit OF the
oocpie and for the development OF the
bobtry havc all originated with tho
- and the nobility. The various
le0ortmcnts OF the government. such
- ihc foreign once. the department,
II the interior. the war department
II department OF justice. are intrust
- 10 members Of the ministry. who
~ selected by tho king with grea,
eoGe.
While Siam In properly called n dcs
pelham and tho authority OF tho king
y obsoiutc and Ia handed down from
la0cr TO son In tho royal family, tho
unusuai social system OF Slam may
~ bald to be nil born FREQ and equal
Wi9h the exception OF tho members OF
u royal family. There Ia. to be- sure
u nobility. But no man In born a
okoman. No title dcsccnda from
fnlbcr TO son. except In the royal
fnDily. Tho son OF n nobieman mus,
Prove himself worthy OF nobility bo
loes ho nttains that rank. And no
bo1ty II won only because OF merit
~ OF good work performed. In the
enSr OF tho brothers OF the king their
so1r do not receive tho same tltlo nd
tA6r fathers. but arc one degree lower
u rank. and their sons. IN turn. arc
ooo degree lower In rank than thsi,
fokhers. unless by merit they may
ltlsin the higher rank. Thus tho do
beendnn,s OF tho royal princes may
ulunn,eiy become tho same M the
resi- OF the people. There are nys
Ianks OF nobility.
The population OF siam has been
eetimated Mt abou, 1000. 900, and tho
Assa OF the country Ia about the same