Omaha daily bee., 1897-07-04
Unscrupulous Agitators Iucte Them
Against Government,
M PLAGUE INSPECTORS ARE BUTCHERS
Charges Are False, but They Cause Fad
State of Affairs.
RAND'S DEATH MAKES BITTER FEELING
Disturbing News Comes from Afgbnn~
istnn, where the Amccr Calls
Meeting OF All the
MohInhs.

Copyright 1897 by the Associated Press)
LONDON, July 3.-The outburst OF anti
English feeling in the native press both Of
Bengal and Bombay for months has had
the outcome which might be expected in tho
outrdgcs at Poonah and the rioting at Chit
pore. Though there is no doubt that the
immediate cause OF the outbreak is tho
energy with which the local authorities have
been stamping out the bubonic plague, some
times requiring interference with the social
relations customs and traditions Of the na-
tives, yet the dsaffeCton would not have
become acute except for the active and
malicious accusations of unscrupulous ag-
tators who melted fanatics to vengeance
against individuals and to revolt against
the government One of these newspapers a
fair sample of the others. said:
The plague authorities are simply butchers
who are torturing and harassing the peo-
pie of Poonah in the name OF sanitary
science. If matters are not put right soon
the scenes of 1857 are likely to be re-wit
messed there, as neither the IIindoos nor
the Mohammedans will tolerate the persecu-
tion of their wives and chtliren for any
length of time. 1t is the misfortune Ct tho
people that the honor and modesty of women,
under the enlightened English government.
We wonder why no notice is taken Of the
shameful dongs of the soldiers in Poopah.
They are perhaps secretly instigatoi by the
government to do these things in retaliation
for the tortures once inflicted on Euroneara
by the Tantia Tpi, and to punish the capital
of the DecCan for taking the lead in all pub
lie agitations. Let us hope that the govern
lest disastrous consequences ensue."
Other newspapers Of Indla openly advocated
armed resistance to the search parties.
Needless to say, the charges are false. All
the search parties who volunteered for the
dangerous plague dealings have been under
the strictest control and have always been
accompanied by officers of tried ability
The death of Commissioner Rand, who was
shot by concealed natives while leaving the
governors residence on jubilee evening at
the time the commissioner OF the commits
sarat stores was killed, has added to the Bit
ter feeling in Poonah. There is reason to
believe that the wave of Mohammedan action
is caused by the successful and unpunished
atrocities in Armenia spreading to the Mug
sulmans of India. There is no reason to fear
for the empire, as the white garrison is
strong, numbering 1000, but there Is reason
to fear succession of local outbreaks, de-
manding sanguinary repression. The stua-
tion seems to call for vigorous action and the
prompt measure of the Bombay government
in proclaiming Poonah dsaffected and occu-
pyng the city with a police force, the cost
Of which amounting to lac and q half OF
rupees for year, will be levied upon GER
tain section of the native community. This
meets with general approval
Replying today to a question in the House
OF Commons, Lord George Hamilton, the Sec
retary of state for India. said the government
was fully alive to the gravity of the case and
meant to act promptly, The whole question
of the noculation Of sedition through the ver-
nacuar press will be revived.
In connection with this serious news from
India comes disturbing information from Af-
ghanistan that the ameer has hastily sum-
moned all the influential Mohlahs throughout
the country to a meeting at Cabuf, as he
wishes to consult them on important matters
concerning Islam. This is believed to be
connected with the recent announcement that
tho sultan has sent special envoy to Cabul
with instructions TO agitate for general re-
vival of Islam.