The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-09-10
England's Financial Decadencc.

1t is not the purpose here to say any
thing i'll disparagement of Great Britain's
financial policy, but, as recorders of facts,
be the hurt where it may, the following
bears heavily upon the present insurrec-
ton in India and the consequent pros
pective downfall of allied securities.
The British authorities are daily arrest
ing journalists all over India and impris-
oning them for " sedition." This means
fuel on the flames of the instruction by
means of an attack upon local newspapers.
The Literary Digest" quotes the
Petite Republique," of Paris, as saying:
Liberal as we'll as conservative papers
prefer to keep silent about the ruin of
India, because their proprietors are in
terested in the robbery practiced there.
The misery of India exceeds anything
elsewhere. The people are forced to cul-
tivate opium in place of food. From this
England draws $3.50, 600, 900 annually,
while the native producers get only IS per
head for the labor. Eighty millions of
the $50, 600, COO people, according to Of
fetal statistics, never get enough to eat.
Native states having independence enough
not to be forced into opium raising always
have food i'll plenty These number
$4,000, 900 people, and no famine occurs
among them" "Opum raising has ex-
hausted the richest soil,' said Sir James
Card; then he added: 1--WE are running
India. Iprotest against the robbery COM
mitted by us in India. If ever rising of
the people was justified, the Indians have
a right to rebel"
Natives have, on their knees, begged
British local authorities to permit them to
grow food adjoining the opium plants,
but were refused the privilege under
threat of imprisonment. All the opium
grown is Immediately put in government
warehouses. The native grower does not
own any part of his crop. This system is
the same as a convict system, and ex-
plains the famine.
In Justice" Mr.. Hyndiman writes:
''The House of Commons forced the Sec
rotary of State to admit that the Govern
ment of India, with Lord George Hamil-
tons concurrence, has actually ordered
tiat no deaths by starvation shall be re-
turned by officials whenever it is in any
way possible 10 ascribe another cause OF
death" Such is the rule today in India.
In connection with the English Gov
ernment's gormandizing propensities, the
following applies: A quarrel recently &C.
CURED i'll the House of Commons as to
what objects certain beGuest should be
applied by the Church of England. This
bequest is known as "Howells Charity"
The will of Howell being read, it was
found that for two centuries the Church
had been receiving money which the
bequest directed to be paid to orphan girls
only as marriage dover. Howell died
in 1880, and left fund for such orphan
girls, and for no other purpose. This be-
quest is now worth $I25, 900 year, and,
according to Howell's will, this would
give $50 marriage bowers to as man
orphan girls at $500 each. The will says
that this shall be done forever.
Now, in spite of the robbery of this be.
quest for 200 years by the British Govern
nlent, a robbery of thousands Of girl
orphans, and the recent exposure Of the
facts i'll the House of Commons, all such
exposure of the facts did not prevent the
British Government from continuing to
rob these same girl orphans for the next
coming years,
This is truly diabolical, almost beyond
acceptability. How low has England sunk
when it can deliberately rob thousands
of orphan girls in this public manner?
Is it to be wondered at that the same
government robbed the Hindoos of theil
$50, ooo,oo famine fund p. M. BATCH
Flor, in The Financial Record.