The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-10
WHAT OF INDIA?
A NRw DANGER TO ENGLAND.

The PdU Mall GdcettG \ fortnight ago
reproduced two Items of news about India
the Importance Of which it would be diiG-
cult to oveTestimate At this time. when q
crisis has been reached in the East, and
Great Britain has only few days where
in to decide what part she will play N the
affairs Of Europe now and for the next po-
litical generation. India to the England of
to-day ls as the apple of its ego, the depen-
dency to be kept and guarded jealousy,
enough Ionian protectorates may be cast
off and the aspirations of Canada and
Australia after virtual Independence be
viewed with more than complaceny. 1t is
India that lends additional Importance to
Gibraltar, Malta and Alden, and frets the
British public to fever whenever the re-
arrangement of the map of Eastern Eu-
rope ia meditated or Russia advances her
ontposts in Central Asia. 1t ia by no means
certain that in the midst of all this worry
the people of England have not overlooked
the fact that a gravrr peril threatens India
from within. Even outside OF the question
OF the possible effect upon the vast Ma
hometan population of HlndoStau Of Eug
lands failure to aid the head of the Mus.
Nnlman Church TT this hour of need, there
exists there widespread dissatisfaction
which those well acquainted with tho tenn
per of the natives have not failed duTlug
the last eighteen months to aCQEaint the
Uhom 1t was Intended to conciliate aud i'm
press by the ceremonies and distribution of
honor at Delhi were neither awed-nor
pleased, while there are graver causes for
the coldness of Scindiah and the NiZam.
II is q matter of complaint among the ma.
Sives that strict faith has not yet been kept
with them in regard to employment in the
Government service-perhHps it would be
better 20 say that their expectations have
not yet been realiZed-and there is over
and above all feeling of dislike and un-
eSsinees, cherished even by those who can
not account for it aud who know best that
another outbreak against the English pow
or would be hopeless. That the existence
Of all this has at last been recognized by
the British authorities appears from the
fact that an Arms bill for India was intro
duced some weeks since in the Legislative
Council, extending to all districts q pro-
vision for making the possession of arms
Illegal without IL license, and to make the
sale of arms to unlicensed persons a Grim
NAL offense. An "unwholesOme" inporta-
tiOn of cheap arms and ammunition is COM
planned of: instance, at Calcutta in four
years 100, 900, 600 percussion caps were i'm.
ported, of which only one seventh were
legally re exported, while a single firm had
applied for permission TO i'm port seven tons
Of powder and 7OO, 900 caps monthly, a
quantity vastly in excess of any Legitimate
UCmtuu hnO IuS military MEMBER OF the
Council has called the atten ion of the Gov
eminent to the fact that there is already in
She country an admirable percussion cap
factory. AT the same time Sir Salar Jung,
ono of the wisest of native statesmen, a
man intimately acquainted as woll with
English affairs, and the stAunck friend of
bhe British in the perilOus times OF the mu
tiny, has very boldly de6ed the Indian
Government. 1t had declared q certain
claimant rightful heir to the Anagoondy ca
tAtes, situated in the NiEam's domInions,
and asked the Eizam's Government to ad
init his claims. For all answer Sir Saler
Jung fOrcibly seized the claimants papers
and seals, warned him away from the ter
TitOry and recognized another claimant. II
ahiB story be true this is a most signihcant
Act-one which, whether it be interpreted
ne meaning that Sir SAlar Jung thinks Eng.
land has her hands so full that he can with
safety adopt policy of "bluffn or that he
wishes to provoke quarrel, is not of good
omen for the peace OF India.
Nor is q better omen to be found IN the
tOne of the native press in Bengal. Cal.
Cutta correspondent points out that Lieu.
tenant-GOvernor Eden has expressed his
belief that the vernacular press in India
Was In no way reflex Of popular feeling