'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎433] (492/714)

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CHAPTER XIV
THE GOVERNMENT
I do not like the fashion of your garments. You will say, They are Persian
But let them be changed.— Shakspeark, Xing Lear.
From what was said at the beginning of the previous chapter it
may be inferred that the government of Persia would, nominally
An abso- at an y rate ' be classified by constitutional writers as an
lutemon- absolute monarchy. In theory the king may do what
le pleases; his word is law. The saying that ' The law
of the Medes and Persians altereth not'was merely an ancient
periphrasis for the absolutism of the sovereign. He appoints and
he may dismiss all ministers, officers, officials and judges. Over his
own family and household, and over the civil or military func
tionaries in his employ he has power of life and death without
reference to any tribunal. The property of any such individual if
disgraced or executed, reverts to him. The right to take life in
any case is vested in him alone, but can be delegated to governors
or deputies. All property, not previously granted by the crown
or purchased all property in fact to which a legal title cannot be
established—belongs to him, and can be disposed of at his
pleasure. All rights or privileges, such as the making of public-
works, the working of mines, the institution of telegraphs, roads
railroads, tramways, &c., the exploitation, in fact, of any of the
resources of the country, are vested in him, and must be pur-
c lased from him before they can be assumed by others. In his
person are fused the threefold functions of government, legislative,
•executive, and judicial. No obligation is imposed upon him be
yond the outward observance of the forms of the national religion.
He is the pivot upon which turns the entire machinery of public life.
Such is, in theory, and was till lately in practice, the character
pSsions ? f ? e Persian monarch 3 r - has a single one of these
high pretensions been overtly conceded. The language
m which the Shah addresses his subjects and is addressed by them
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