Page:Hyderabad in 1890 and 1891; comprising all the letters on Hyderabad affairs written to the Madras Hindu by its Hyderabad correspondent during 1890 and 1891 (IA hyderabadin1890100bangrich).pdf/138

 HYDERABAD, 3rd August, 1891

A communication which appears in the last issue of the "Deccan Standard" under the heading of "A word about polities," is worth noticing. In it the writer, who is, we are told by the editor, "a European and away in the Districts and not in the Nizam's service or employ" reads a very important lesson to his brethren in his Highness the Nizam's Dominions, which, it is to be hoped, will not be lost on them. Now, a European considers himself to be a superior being in this State as in other Native States in India. He serves a Native Prince for a big salary, he lives within the jurisdiction of his Government on account of the advantages that he cannot dream of obtaining at the bands of a European Government, but to the laws of the Prince he is not amenable. He is a servant and subject; and yet his master and sovereign cannot sit in judgment over him. This is a singular anomaly, but it exists in the Native States because of the supreme power of the British Government, and is allowed. to exist by the backbonelessness, if I may use the term, of the native rulers. And to this the writer of the article above referred to directs his attention. If Europeans do not like the Nizam's laws" says he, "they are not compelled to submit to them. They may stay where more benign law holds sway." Quite so. To claim equal privileges or rather to enjoy equal advantages with the subjects of Native Princes and yet refuse to be bound by the laws that bind them is as reasonable as it is just on the part of the Supreme Government to support and sanction it. And the reasonableness, as well as the justice, passeth all understanding. The writer then proceeds to point out the necessity for the Nizam's Government to recognise ordained Missionaries as Registrars of marriages, Recorders of deaths, births, &c—for, to use his own words, we also doubt if Missionaries holding licenses from the British Government to perform marriage ceremonies between British subjects, European or native, have any right whatever thereunder to go into the districts, and, as is now being done, perform the operation upon purely Nizam's subjects under purely British licenses"—