Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1891 — Absurd Titles. [ARTICLE]

Absurd Titles.

Often enough we hear through the news journals of the “Sublime Porte.” How many ask the meaning of the term? In ancient times, and especially in Oriental countries, it was the custom to make the gates of the cities and king’s palaces places of assembly, where the affairs of government were to be discussed. In time the term was applied to the government that exercised authority, the ruler of Turkey, for instance, being called the “Ottoman Porte,” which has been gradually changed among European nations to “Sublime Porte” (Lofty Gate), the rendering of thS expression by. the French in their language, which is the official tongue of European diplomacy. The “Sublime Porte” is not the official title of the Sultan. Inordinate vanity has caused him to adopt it to himself, in the same spirit that prompts the monarchs of Germany, Russia, Austria, and England to call them emperors and empresses; titles which they have no more right to bear than Xerxes, the ambitious Persian of antiquity, to term himself “King of kings” and Anally, when his conceit bad reached the limit, “the supporter of the world.” It is an amusing experience to run down the worlds rulers and note the ridiculous titles applied to men and women, who ought to realize that their piled up “nick-names” really lower them in the estimation of intelligent people. Victoria of England is the “defender of the faith,” the Mikado (Royal Gate) of Japan is known at home as “Ten-o” (Heaven’s Highest), the ruler of Siam is “the Lord of the White Elephant,” and the king of China is “Brother of the Sun and Moon,” etc., etc. There is almost an endless list of titles and of individuals who have adopted them; any good encyclopedia will give them all, but space will not permit a recapitulation here.