New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-16
A MOCKERY OF JUSTICE.

MOCKERY OF JUSTICE.
English rule in India has left long tran
of blood. 1t began in enterprises entirely SIM
liar TO those of Cortez and Pizarro, and crimes
IN excuse crimes and to secure the fruit OF
crimes have marked its progress till to-day
The hanging of the Senaputti of Manipur is the
latest of these offences. An attempt is made
TO Justify it. of course, on the ground that II
is the natural punishment OF murder and that
the murders committed by the Senaputti were
of particularly base and atrocous kind. Ihis
claim. however is not established by evidence
and. if it were, it takes no note of the circum-
stances of the case, which Christian nation If
bound to do. That the Senaputti was an Or
entail savage no one denies. That fact, IN
deed, is an important element, ii not OF his
justification, at least of his defence. 1t should
have gone to the mitigation of his punishment
To Judge him by the standards of responsibility
fixed in Christian countries is cruelty UNJUST
even if it had been proved that the treachery
at Manipur began with him, and the injustice
is the more glaring when by those standards
England's course in the occupation OF the oeha-
putti's country is examined.
The Senaputti was the third son OF uhe
Maharaah in whose reign English supremacy
in Manipur was established. That ruler dleu
six years ago, and his eldest son, weak In
competent. succeeded. He named as his heir
his fathers second son with the title OF the
Jubarai. The third son became the Senaputti
or general of the army. The Senaputti was as
able. daring and cruel as the Maharajah was
oontemptible. and after recognizing the army
and bringing it to high degree OF perfection
he n5tigated an uprising against the MaharaJan,
who precipitately fled to Calcutta ana placed
himself under British protection. Every ehort
was made to induce him to return to his place,
but he was so terrified that despite the assur-
anoes showered upon him OF English support
he abdicated and the Jubaraj who had already
been accepted as ruler became ruler OF rlght.
The Senaputti, of course, was the power behlnd
the throne, but whatever he meditated IN the
fu,ure he was wise enough to appear deferenual
to the English political agent, Mr. Grimwood,
whose functions we're admitted and respected,
and a peaceful order Of things was quickly
established Nor was there any apparent IKE
lbood that it would be disturbed until the
news reached Manipur that the English authon-
ties had determined to restore the runaway
prince.
MIR. Grimwood perceived the folly and dan
ger of this, and urgently advised against it.
The people, he said, would never consent to
receive ruler who abdicated under clrcuih-
stances that so plainly proclaimed his ooWardice
and now returned the open vassal OF power
still regarded by the Manipuri with profound
hostility and distrust. But the politicians al
Calcutta were convinced that the MaharaJah'
restoration was necessary to the vindication Of
their authority. and dsregarding Mr.. Grim
wood. they dispatched Commissioner Quintor
10 Manipur, charged to secure the Senaputh
submission. From no point OF view can this
proceeding be justified. 1t was neither neces
sary nor wise. 1t involved the humiliation o.
the people and to man of the Senaputtl
surroundings and limitations it invited the
events which promptly occurred. He had nc
true conception of English resources, nor Of The
inevitable results attending what to him was
the assertion of his ancient and inalienablt
rights.
Where the first act of treachery appeared
moreover, has never yet been made clear. Mr.
Ouinton reached Manipur and summoned thu
Senaputti to parley. There were many de
laws due unquestionably to the Senaputtls be
lief that the sanctity of the parley was to bt
violated by his summary arrest. Much eVl
dence has been developed to prove that he wa
right, and that the Commissioner contemplated
an act of treachery far more base than tha
of which he was the victim. Certain 1t Is tina
the precautions for the safety of their party
upon which the Senaputti and his brother boil
insisted were refused, and once more agalns
the advice of the unfortunate Mr.. Grimwood
The massacre that followed was as much the
fault of Quinton's obStinaCy or evil purpose a
of the Senaputti's native cruelty. The Manipur
struck first, but only because they feared the!
would not have the chance to strike if the,
waited. Their subiugation quickly followed
and now, when they are wholly undOne, hu
inflated and bowed in the yoke of usurper
and invaders, the daring chieftain who had LEI
them in their il-starred revolt must needs b.
hanged as an appalling example.
There is no justification of this hanging. 1t i
an offence against civilization, and if it result
as its authors hope we shall be surprised. Eng
lish supremacy in India is far from complete
within as the acknowledgment of it is far from
full without, and both are weakened by sucl
mockeres Of justice