The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-30

two heated controversialists. an insolent
remark made by an angry partisan, each
ana any one, with other causes no more
sacre by one party or the other. and finally
TO the clearing of the streets by the gov
eminent 5 artillery. OF all things improb-
dpie IN indla the union of Hindoo and Mos
lem for any purpose is the most unlikely.
Here are surely reasons enough to eX-
plain the singular spectacle of nearly 400,-
900 600 of people controlled nv y standing
army Of 2l1,000 men, but there are still
others which must be taken into consdera-
ton. 1t IS common impression that the
whole OF India is directly under British au-
thorlty, but this is a great mistake There
states which hold very different relations
10 the Indian government Some are ruled
by an English Governor, some by a native
prince who is tributary to the Indian gov
eminent, and a number are quite indie
pendent of English control, but are bound
oy treaties of alliance, which restrict their
foreign policies, while leaving their inter-
mai affairs under the direction of their own
hereditary sovereigns, some of Whom are
SO nearly independent that they do not even
pay uloute to the indian government. The
extent and population of these Independent
or seml-lndependent States of India will
be a surprise to those who have not given
special attention to the subject. The area
OF the native Kingdoms and municipalities
is 30 61 square miles or considerably over
one-third the total area of India, while
their population is "a, 100000 or about one
sixth. The Indian princes have armies ag-
SItSdllIB over 0GU,Ub0 men. not so well
drilled nor armed as the British forces, but
stun capable of effective service. In 1855,
when there was a strong probability Of
war between Russia and Great Britain the
princes testified their loyalty by Offering
large sums of money for the defense OF
the empire, and in return the government
undertook the organization of picked con-
tingent of troops from each native State
10 snare II necessary, in the military OPP
erauonS of the Indian army.
If the princes of India were to unite their
strength and concentrate their forces in
rebellion they could, without doubt, bring
about a crisis more serious than any since
the mutiny of the native regiments, but
fortunately for the cOnquerors the native
rulers are much at variance with each
other as the common people One is a Mo-
hammedan another a Hindoo; one is in
dependent, another tributary; the possess
slonS OF one aggregate $4,000 square miles,
of another less than a thousand; one main
tains large standing army, another is not
permitted 10 Keep soldiers; some are very
rlch, others are poor; some, the more pow
erful, are impatient of the existing order of
things and would like to see the British
authority oVerthroWn; others, the weaker
prefer to have the present political status
continued, being well aware that should
there be a change the smaller States would
suffer, as in all probability they would be
absorbed by their stronger neighbors From
these and many other causes arise innum-
cradle JealOuSieS, so it is not in the least
probable that a political conspiracy en-
bracing the whole or any considerable part
OF the India princes can or will be formed.
Ihey are deferred from attempting it by
the certainty, in case of failure of losing
their thrones. Several such instances of
unsuccessful rebellion and subsequent loss
or power have occurred, and the example
has not been lost those who still retain
even a semblance of regal authority. Among
the princes there is no desire to see a Rus
san ColIIuesl; an understand perfectly that
should the peninsula be governed from St
Petersburg not q native ruler would retain
ms power; every one would be Supplanted
by a Russian officer.
ATTITUDE OF THE MASSES
Among the toiling millions of India there
is reason to believe much Indifference pre-
walls as to the dominant power Through
out the country the village system" is in
vogue the village" being nearly equiva-
lent to our township. Each village has its
head man, its astrologer, blacksmith, tailor
shoemaker and other artisans, who are paid
by the community at large and devote their
services to all it's members The British
have wisely left the system undsturbed
save for the investment of the head man
with the power and prestige of a local
magistrate the people are accustomed to
the system, it has been in use among them
for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.
is the only government of which the ma
jorty have any knowledge, and so long as
it continues it matters not to them who
rules in Calcutta and Bombay Even dur
ing the mutiny of 1857 save in one dis
trict, the people were quiet the presidency
of Bombay not disturbed, Madras
undisturbed, in lower Bengal there was no
sign OF uneaslnesS, and While SeVenty-slX
regiments of the native army mutinied and
twenty-five others were disarmed or dis
banded, while the war was actually going
on in the north, thousands of recruits were
enlisted In Calcutta and Bombay to be
drilled and sent to the front with the spe-
cific knowledge that they had entered the
service for the purpose of fighting their
own countrymen, and thus of prolonging
the British occupation. When enllStmentS
could be secured at such time and under
such circumstances, there is little eXpecta-
ton that the population of India will ever
rise en- masse against d foreign domination
OF their country.
There is no pretense made that the Eng
lish government of India is perefct There
is probably much corruption among the
officials and instances of oppression and
injustice often come to light, generally
through the native press. But, on the
whole the rule of the English since the
government of the country was taken from
the East India Company and vested in the
crown, has been characterized by rough
and ready justice that, while in many cases
it did not satisfy the people, gave them EN- no
just cause of complaint ana is so Iar IN
advance of that prevailing in other parts
of Asia and even in the native states of the
peninsula to leave no valid ground Tor
insurrection. The people of India are the
most prone to litigation OF any on the
globe; there are million ana nan or
lawsuits every year, and, of course 1t is
regarded as something of hardshp 10
have their cases appealed from the village
MAGISTRATE to q British judge, but. no mat
ter what the decision, one party IS always
satisfied with it, and no more could De Saud
if the final determination OF every case
rested with the native head man. me ma
five press is troublesome, often turbulent;
in every country there are agitators, de-
sirOus Of a change and hoping to profit by
It, but in some cases; at least, the people,
when they care anything at all about the
matter, are known to prefer the rule OF the
british governors to that of the native
princes. The taxes under the English dom ON
nation are heavy but every one kn ,,iSa JHse
e exact of the native princes are heavier
and irregular in amount and time or coffee
tion Neither Hndoos nor Moslems are
satisfied probably never will be- but the
impossibity of making united eI10r d, fqr
a camnarativelv small military force to
hold in subsection a territory containing
nearly one-fifth of the human race.
EuR0PEAN STANDING ARMIES.
Their Effect on Civilization Has Been