New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-15
BRITISH RULE IN INDIA.

THE PEOPLE OF INDA-soME INSTANCES OF
INJUSTICE
To the Edttor Of The Tribune,
SIR: was recently permitted by your courtesy
to publish certain statements with regard 10 INC
British rule in the far East, which appears to nave
met with no open denial. Will you auowm me Drlehy
TO present my reasons for condemning Government
which Processes 10 have bestowed upon ITS SUBJECTS
blessings hitherto untasted by other racesf
It would be most unjust thing to say that Eng
lishmen have done no good in India. The true
question is, whetherth they have done more good than
harm-whethcr the occasional efforts oil honest
individuals, the transitOry sympathy OF one Ut
two or three Minister'S during their terms OF ONCE
and the poetic optimism of a few writers IN the
public press, benefits of a nature to outbalance
the avarice of the late honorable East India Com
panv, or the martial and expensive fury of the late
Earl OF BeaconsGed. The question Is whether the
establishment of extravagant colleges for educating
a small number of natives into nondescrpt atheist
malcontents is just compensation for the
loss OF national personal estate IN the shape
of valuabcs forclbly removed, or OF
tho national land revenues paid away IN salaries
and war expenses or of the national commerce
crippled for the advantage of Birmingham ana
Manchester voters. 1t is almost a trulsm to say
that nations prosperity is measured by nations
wealth. 1t is not likely that any sane person be-
ieves Austria to be the most prosperous nation III
Europe or that the German Empire is moro pros
perous than the French Republic. No insolvent
country is prosperous, and no government that mas
steadily carried country from solyency to bank
ruptcy has governed that country well. India was
once the very byword for wealth-India is now
bankrupt and but for Engands extremely
thoughtful and kind pecuniary assistance would
have 10 pudiate her debts Seeing that this state
of things has been going ever since England took
hold of India from bad to worse. India growing
poorer aud England richer day by day, there ~ no
possible conclusion save that it must be England's
fault.
Enplishmcn defend themselves against this ac-
cusation By two great arguments. They say that
If they were not masters of India Russia would be
ard they proceed 10 show that lndia's money mas
been spent for midas good But the greater aTgu-
ment is he second and it is indeed masterpiece OF
righteous logic II consists IN altogether ignoring
Indlas financial situation, midas complaints ana
midas losses, in order to produce beautiful ldeai
pictures OF n God-fcariug pat 'rnal rne. OF whlch
the main feature Is the chastscmcnt of the beloved
subject. ~ far as actual experience goes. whom
Trclapd loyeth for his moneys sake she chastseth
vigorously for the sake OF getting r. Lest be ac-
cus4d Of a blind use of invective will tell a couple
names Of crsons and places which am, however
able to produce.
some year, ago | found myself on board a steamer
returning rom India, IA company with numoefo i
Au.lo-Indiaa.. Among them an English officer
Of cavalry who had been IN charge OF the police in
northern border station. HIS field Of authority was
extensive and his personal power considerable
II, had with him ON board some valuable specimens
II native wcapons. very curious in Workmanship
and rich i'm ornament. which he kept IN his state
room aud showed 90 tLe passengers. one DAY he
informed me that las had with HIM mum rous boxes
of similar articles, forming a collection OF which ne
was proud | remarked that be must nave
| spert considerable IN buying surh
| things. rs they wcr, evidently Of great value.
| Not "A bit it, replied the officer with merry
nngh. " / had q better plan than that. When J
sayy n man i'm tie street with anything iancIcd'
,enf my man and ordered It ID be conil'caled' All
,oe,.ed art c.c, we sold at auction 40 the public
| pound OF course no one dared 20 bid AGAINST NY
! .crvant for what / wanted. for fear of getting a
licking. managed to get lots of things IN that way
f,ramcrc triA,.' lie laughed again, well satisfied
with his device. The ease wd- and Is, too common
to D.. extraordinary. and approhend that a very
! common and ordinary English word fully defines
| the proceeding
I Ihavc az incident of another description which
Goes Ia show hos official, In the permanent service
! cam throw dust IN the eye. of superior uuac-
o1a-tcd with the pccu laritics Of the Anglo-lndan
! view OF government Au officer of frontier station
! once told me yciv circpmstantiilly the following
! story lie was posted with nondcScript force oil
! native mounted soidj r.. called police for lack
nj g., hotter Term TO oppose tho raids OF n certain
tribe who were IN the habit of stealing horses and
! cattle from across the border new Nicer'y had
lately arrived, whose total ignorance OF Indian HE
! made him an easy prey. To gam his FAVOR was an
| advantage worth some trouble. The Nlccroy was
making an official toIr aud was expected on 4
certain day IN the station whore the Aforesaid Once
was posted. With a view to preserving the peace,
order and stainless justice to which the attention
| Of the public is daily called by certain English
papcrs. the honest and kindhearted Saxon invented
| an ingenious scheme Having ascertaneu the eX-
act date of the Viceroys arrival in his station he
| rode alone across the border and interviewed the
chief OF the hostile tribe, with whom he appears to
| have been OH speaking terms. lie had Dag OF
rupees at his saddle bow. The result OF the inter
| view was that he left the rupees behind him and
rode back a ght-heartcd soldier. In the afternoon
the Vccrov arrived with small staff Of officers and
| servants. was entertained at dinner, and went 10
| bed At midnight there was a sudden SUR IN inc
| camp and the news soon reached the Nlceroy that
| q party of bOrdercrs had ridden quietly over lhe
frontier and had successfully driven away large
number of cattle and horses undercoVer OF the dark
ness The Viceroy was in great excitement. Then
the officer in charge appeared with calm coun-
| t.nance. "Your loglship need have no anxiety"
| he SAID 81 pledg, you my honor rs soldier that
every head Of cattle and every horse shall be IN
| camp again by tomorrow afternoon. l am quite
sure of IT," And, indeed, hc was very sure.
BEFORE dawn he was away with party of horse and
another bag Of rupces-the second half OF the price
| agreed upon for tho transaction; Dy the after
noon he had returned as he had promised win
every head of cattle and every morse
that had been stolen. 1t Is hardly
necessary to add that the Vlceroy was immensely
impressed by the promptnes5 and decision display
ed m this business. and that the officer reaped