New-York tribune., 1885-02-11
ESGL1NUS DANGER IN INDIA.

The fall of Khartoum may have weiglty con-
sequences elsewhere than in Egypt and the
Soudan. So striking n success for Mahom-
etan religious pretender must move the
Moslcm heart strongly throughout the world.
England is to an important extent Mahom-
etan Power. In India she has fifty millions
of Moslem subjects; and it devolves upon her
to sustain the Turkish Government also, since
the alternative is the surrender OF the Oar
danelles and the Bosphorus TO Russia, and the
establishment Of u menace to her line OF COM
municati0ns with India which the possession of
Cyprus and Malta cannot counteract. The
Indian Empire is even now in a restless cpndi-
ton. The recent ovation to Lord Ripon upon
his departure-the most remarkable spontane
Gus native demonstration ever made--was
rightly interpreted, cause for serious misgiv-
ing. Lord Ripon was liked by the natives OF
India because he tried to put them on equal
terms with Anglo-Indians before the law. The
IIbert bill endeaed him to the native popula-
ton, while calling down upon him the iiercest
denunciatons of the official class Of Europeans
Therefore the late popular ovation TO the de-
parting GOvernOr-G General signfed quite as
strongly the native hatred of the dominant
race as the exceptional native feeling toward
Lord Ripon. England is dctested in India.
That is the plain truth and the reason is not
bad government, but the intolerant arroe ance
and habit OF regarding the natives ms an in
feriOr race which characterizcs. English rule, not
only In India, but in whatever country she
plants q conquering foot.
This sentiment keeps up an infamed condi-
tion of native feeling; a condition perhaps not
dangerous in itself. but always liable to become
so upon the addition Of some neS irritating
cause. At present the attitude of Russia in
Central Asia is creating a perccptible tension
in Indian public opinion. That attitude is in
the eyes of the natives an impeachment of
British power, and Muscovite emissaries en-
force and spread this view among the frontier
populations. Upon such state of things
comes the news of the fall of Khartoum. The
British prestige must suffer immensely from
that event. and what is of equal impontance.
the Mahdi must assume new and great proper
tons. He is no longer possible impostor He
is a true representative of the Prophet. The
fall of Khartoum has caused q shock which will
vibrate from Stamboul to Calcutta, and which
must enormously increase the difficulties of the
Eastern and Central Asiatic questions, at the
same time that it forces upon the Sultan and
Mr Gladstone grave problem of religions
fanaticism.
The implications of be'Mahdrs success in
deed are so complex and extensive that it is
difficult to set limit to them. The overthrow
of General Gordon may open up questions
which cannot be settled without a European
war; may necessitate the Encouragement OF
European international relations and alliances,
and may involve England in dangers more
formidable than any she has been called on Ia
face since Napoleon undertook to barricade all
Europe against her. and contemplated her dis
possession from Hindostan. The crisis is un.
questionably most serious. and only the mosi