The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-17
DOES TROUBLE IMPEND IN
INDIA

A dispatch from London lately an
nounced that considerable uneasineSs pre-
vailed among the people in authority in
British India on account of the indications
of fresh outbreak OF what the English in
1857 facetiously called ''mutiny." Those
indications have not been mentioned in
the press. But they are common talk
among travellers, and have been the subject
of comment among Englishmen who have
served in the Indian army. The impress
sion among well-informed people is that
the century will not end without a renewed
effort of the native Hindoostanees TO shake
off the foreign yoke.
They would be more likely to attempt
and perhaps succeed in that purpose, if
they were united. But they are a hetero-
geneouS gathering of clans which have
little in common except hatred of the
foreigner There never was in ali history
SO anomalous an assemblage of political en-
titles under one control. The British
Blue Books divide the peninsula into six
groups of provinces wholly or mainly
under British control and thirteen groups
of states under British influence but
ruled by native chiefs. Together the Two
contained in 1891 2S7, COO, coo people. These
people are distributed among about zoo
separate political communities. the laws
and customs OF which vary. Some are
mere British provinces ruled by British
Governors. In some the native Rajahs
control the internal administration subject
to the Govern or General in council. In
some the old native laws are in full force !;
in others the code which was drawn by
7 n,IA 81. Ert,z
of demarcatiOn between the Omnipotent
government at Calcutta and the local
authorities varies in almost every case
and the actual conduct of business largely
depends on the character of the British
resident. There is but one rule that is
uniform and immutable. No native state
may enter into a treaty with another
native state. They can only communicate
with each other through the British
Government
Many, perhaps most OF the native
states keep armies of their own on foot
But the armies are generally differed by
Englishmen and the privates are regarded
as SepoyS, who can be called into the field
by orders from Calcutta. The states have
resources of their own derived from local
taxation. Of this a portion is sent to Cal
cutta as tribute. The civilizing influences
of Christianity and orderly government
have induced many of the Rajahs or
Princes to send their sons to England to
be educated; thus the rising generation
among well-born EiDdoostanees are cul-
tured and trained in political knowledge.
NJ. Elisee Reclus thought that Hindo-
stan was drifting into a sort Of feudaliSm.
as it existed in England in the time Of the
TudOrs and in France before Louis XI.
But Mr.. Lee Warner, who has just pub
lished thoughtful book on India, sees no
present signs of feudalism in that country
and no basis on which to build up such
system. 1t took several centuries 20 organ
ize the feudal regime in Europe out Of the
medieval anarchy. There are no indica-
lions anywhere in India of disposition
among the native Princes to cooperate for
common end. An attempt to combine
them, from present appearances, would
create rope Of sand. An uprising would
pro baby be confined to a few localities
and though II might lead to a renewal of
the transactions at CawnpOre the general
Government would probably be able to con-
centrate forces enough at the danger spots
to crush out the insurgents. 1t must be
Iem6m DeIeu LHdb Tue DTlIlSu government
in India has an army of 900, 600 men at its
disposal, $4,000 of whom are Europeans.
At the time of the "mutiny" the army
numbered 255.OOO, of whom only 10000
were Europeans.
Pride will always forbid the voluntary
REIMBURSEMENT of India by the English
But England's Wisest statesmen admit
that it is white elephant. In the time of
the East India Company the natives were
robbed to fatten Englishmen in Leaden.
hall street. Now, with taxation as heavy
as can be borne, there is an annual deficit
in the revenue, and the debt. which is
chiefly held in England, is $4,000. OOO
1t was supposed, when the act of 1853 was
passed, that the colony would be self
sustaining, but it has never been so and it
does not look as though it ever would.
The British mercantile interest, faithful to
the principles which led 10 the revelation
in this country, has set its face against the
establishment of manufacturing industry
in India. and thus the volume of taxable
property does not increase.