The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-11
Weakness OF GladstOne's Peace Policy
Daily Developing Rnssia's De-
mands Become More
Aggressive.
The Gladstone Government on the
Eve Of Collapsing-Tria OF
Cunningham and
Barton.
The Situation from Indian Point of
View-CompErison OF Resources.

giew-Compsrison of Resources.
LONDON, May lO-A special 10 the st.
Louis Republican has the following in re-
gard to affairs in Asia: "The official cor
respon0ence between the Government and
TIE Governor General will, when printed,
exhibit nothing In the slightest degree indi-
eating anything but the most cordial rela-
tions, but when half dozen women related
to the families of members OF the Govern
ment permit themselves to disclose minis
terisl and departmental matters in Loadon
drawing-reous with the utmost freedom, /
see no good in denying that Lord Dufferins
relations with Mr.. Gladstones administrs.
tion are understood in this department to
have been strained during the past five days;
and that there is party both here and in
India who are of the opinion that
the right course for India to ADOPT
is to force On war and beat Rus
sia at her own game. It is all stuff to
say India submits to British rule because
British rule is enlighted. India submits be-
cause England has the whip hand, and it
must ever De as long as the government of
the country is administered by aliens. aud
held by force of the sword. The logic OF the
situation is that the hands which hold India
by the sword should use her material re.
sources In men, money, produce and every
thing else, like the Russians, for waging gar
against external enemies. The impending
campaign would be one of defense against
az sggressive and unscrupulous enemy, who
as fast rs she advances toward US, converts
Der annexat;ens into military districts a1d
the inhs bitants into soldiers to fight her
battles. There is nothing but the resolution
to do so to prevent our adopting the same
policy.
Our resources are immensely greater than
those of Russia in every way. There is no
more danger of general uprising against
our power than there is OF a rising in the
Russian Empire far less indeed, for the race
divisions in India, the growth and consoli-
dat;on of the British element and the man
ner in which the influential native elements
have been welded into the imEeril scheme
and have become interested IN its maintsn.
ance would make such isolated risinga as
might occur simply ridiculous and hopeless,
and could have no more real effect on the
fighting power OF the Empire in national
emergency than q grain of dust in a mans
hand. Germany, with 40, ,000. .0CO inhabitants
raises an army of 428 900 men, capable Cf
being brought I'D TO war footing of q
million and half besides reserves. France,
with 3s oCo.000 people. has an army of
500 coo. capable of being raised to an
besides reserves. Russia, with Dopu-
lati0n of less than l0l 100000 in all her
possessions has raised by conscription at
home and in all of her annexed territories
an effective array OF 7S0.0 600 men, Of whom q
much larger percentage proportionaseiy than
the British aud Indian armies is required for
garrison purposes, capable of being raised
roninally. but with enormous risk. to a war
strength Of 500 900 men and her public
debt would render a prolonged war, such as q
naval power like England could wage, not
only difficDlt. but impossible. Let ccnscrip.
tion be sanctioned for India and we shall
have q population of l9S 900 600 to pick aud
choose from, to say nothing of the so-called
independent States, numbering 80 900 900,
and If Russia can raise ., 800 600 men. there
is no reason on esrrh why we should not
raise 500 600 of equally good fighting mate
rial. There is not q pin to choose between
the two Empires rs regards the quality of the
material to create armies out of, except, pos.
sibly, as regards the north western districts OF
British India, which afford practically un-
limited supplies OF as good 6ghting stuff as
can he found outside of France, Germany
and Great Britain.