The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-23

ment for ridiculing the Jubilee and describ-
inp IL ma n w~ild-animal show, got up for the
amusement of the English people; for
d~enouncinp the violation Of native usages
in connection with the plague, the men
who talked of liberty and self-government
were thought 30 much more dangerous that
thew were condemned to penal servitude
for wears or for life. They merely advo-
Gated what has been more than once dis
cussed Mt the meetings held at different
times and places of the Indian National
Congress-. This Congress has fo~rty.three
circles, which send delegates to the regular
meetings of the Congress, whose President,
elected in 1895, is RAHIMTULA MUHAMMAD
SAYANr. The efforts that were made in
the early days of the Congress to stir up
antagonism between the Mussulmans and
Hindoos were unsuccessful, as the fact of
the present President being a Mussulman
shows. II. therefore, to the national unity
of races the cry for the right to self-govern-
ment and the administration Of their own
revenues Is added, the British administra-
ton Ia called on to face in India in 1897
the same questions that confronted it in
Canada in 1887.
1t Is a curious coincidence, unconsciously
brought about, no doubt, that the condi-
lions of India, just sixty years after the
rebellion that gave political emancipation
to Canada, should be causing England the
same trouble, only on a far wider scale. 1t
will be fortunate for England's place in the
scale of nations II the just demands Of the
Indian people are met in a spirit Of conf
dence and Cancellation. The conduct Of the
Indian National Congress has shown that
India possesses q large body of moderate
but progressive men, quite competent to
take part in the legislation for their coun-
try and in its administration. The spirit
of the best portion of the Indian press is In
harmony with that of the National Con-
gress. 1t is not possible that the English
Government and people will go on forever
turning q deaf ear to the j%ustifable de-
mands Of the Indian people, whose submits
sion to the actual system Of government in
their country is a matter of wonder to the
rest of the world.
English writer's frequently say that Eng
lands mission in India is to prepare its
people for the privileges of self-government.
Its acts, however, seem to indicate the
contrary. Statements that have appeared
In THE Sun at various times concerning
British rule in India and its results end
rather to exhibit it in the light Of a para.
site system, devised solely in the interest
of the alien race. The bulk of the Indian
taxation is the ~perquisite of the metropol-
itan power, and constitutes a permanent
drain upon the ever-diminishing resources
Of the Indian people. 1t is this that is at
once the shame and danger of England.
1t was against a similar condition of things
that the Canadian people rose in 1887.
That rising and it's results are q lesson and
a warning for India and England. 1t was
not the executions by cord and bullet that
restored tranquility to Canada in 1897, and
1t is not by sentences of penal servitude
that disaffection in India will be allayed.
In the memorable words of JOHN BRIGHT,
force is no remedy for discomfort.