The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-07

Aeia-Society There L. Very Old and
stereotyped and 1t - Impossibie to
Change 1.-the English Bavs Had No
Respect For vested Rights and the
Worm Hes Turned-What Part Silver
Has Played There.
Chicago, Sept. 6.-Jbhn Elhert writes to
the Times-Herald as follows: English
newspapers, notably the Standard and
the st. James Gazette, ascribe the pres
ent disturbances in the northwest terri
tory Of India, continuous to Afghanistan,
to English policy in the Graeco-Turkish
war. These pa pers claim that the vari-
GUS snubs administered by the sublime
porte to English diplomacy have injured
English prestige in India; hence the up
risings of the wariilce Afridis and Dscha-
mas along the Afghan frontier
Correspondents Of the great newspa-
persof continental Europe, writing from
India, give different cause of the pres
ent disturbances. They are unanimous
in the claim that British rule, or rather
misrule, in India is at the bottom Of it
all and that the existing guerrilla cam
paign may very readily result in revo-
luton of both the Hindu and, Mohamme-
dan tribes Of northern India If it is not
promptly and energetically stopped.
India, including Ceylon and the close
ly connected native states Of India, have
about 100000 900 inhabitants. Of which
nearly one-fifth are Mohammedans,
while nearly the remainder are Hindoos,
that is. followers Of the Brahmins, who
are teachers OF the orthodox cult. Budd-
hism mas been nearly driven out Of India
by the Bralanins, who teach that only
in the strictest adherence to orthodox
doctrines is there any hope.
The Mohamrnedans, though smaller in
numbers are the most dangerous, be-
causethey are the most warlike. They
inhabit the mountainous regions OF the
north and northwest OF India and the
whole of Afghan istan. The Afrids and
Dschainas, now in revolt, are part Of
them.
II is remarkable that neither the Hin
dus nor the Mohammedans have any
strongly developed national sentiment.
But both cling to the tadherents OF their
midable Religion with them is a stron-
er bond than all other conditions, and
England's vacillatng policy in the ORR
ent and its subsequent diplomatic de-
feat by the sultan no dobt strengthens
the Mohammedans in their present up
rising.
In India each Of the two faiths has
Iaterly gained in orthodoxy, thus sur
p,using the contrasts between Mfamme-
dams and Hindus. This would be of adj
vantage to England if It were possible
to leave the settlement of religious differ
ences to the two parties involved. But.
inasmuch as these differences always
eliminate in bloody war, England Of
action would lead to complete anarchism
and terrorism, at least on the partsof the
Mohammedans, and therefore England's
policy to suppress every religSoustwar in
It's very inception.
This naturally enrages the Mohamme-
dams, who, IL left to themselves, would
soon subjugate the Hindus in many parts
OF India, because the latter lack both the
energy and the warliks propensities OF
the Mohammedans, and therefore Eng
land policy toward religious excuses of
the Hindus is obnoxious to the latter,
and In this respect England cannot al
ways be blamed.
It is certainly justifiable that the Eng
fish Nelentlessly destroy certain religious
criminal sects, like the Thugs, and they
prohiit certain religious observa noes OF
the Hindus, like the cremation OF widows
and the murderous procession in honor
OF the idol Dschagannatha: 1t Is quite
justifiable that the English do not tenn
porize in this policy, but simply suppress
such excuses by force.
There is no other means. Very little
can be expected, "a least for the time be-
ing, from the influences OF Christianity.
In Mohammedan countries conve rsions
to Christianity are few and far between.
and are almost exclusively limited to the
half starved peasantry or 10 the lowest
rabble, both OF which embrace Chrit-
tianity in the first place for material
reasons.
The Hindus are either too narrow
minded, too much attached TO their idol
atrous worship or too skeptic. In the lat
ter case they claim-and with much ap-
parent resson-that the Christian clery
AMI missionaries teach differen forms OF
worship. They undoubtedly base their
claim upon the fact that Christianity was
first taught them by Catholic Francis
cans and Jesuits. next by French Monks
and missionaries of the different confes-
sions Such varigated teachings would
even confuse a gentle: they completely
bafied the Hindus. and the Branmins
had and have very easy play 70 destroy
what was achieved by some missionaries
with the greatest sacrifices
II is in material aspects. however. that
the English made the greatest mistakes.
1t is needless TO explain the class sys-
TEN among the Hindus in detail. The
Brahmin IS born as such-ne does not
work: the waisjiS, or peasant, has 20
work hard for little return. and sudra or
pariah is an outcast, and in many in
stances bereft OF all personal rights.
This has been the case for thousands Of
centuries. and will remain so until, per-
haps. a new Buida or a powerful tenn
poral ruler overthrows the whole relig-
ion OF the Brahmins and destroys the
class system.
Progress is impossible under the pres
ent conditions. \ people which has nei-
Their a national sentiment nor any en-
deavor 10 improve itself can have no
other though: but thai OF material in
terests.
Now. the Hindus have been continually
exploited tor thousands OF years. First
ihey were oppressed by their own kings
and princes. which fact made II easy Cor
the MohamDedaus 20 subjugate India,
because the Hindus were quite indiffe--