The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
GRIM WORK TO DO In INDIA
ENGLAND CITING TIE COLONIAL
GOVERNMENT FREE HAND.

ruril.hmen Rejoicing at tho Prospect OF RiE
patties-No Apparent Intentioa Of Geseral
Revolt - Authorities CoaSineea That ut II
oni, y Frontier Rew-Ths Munah's work.
Special Gable Dsspatoh to TIE Sun.
LONDON, Sept. A-Although the situation on
the Indian frontier is unimproved and q heavy
campaign is inevitable, nothing has transpired
10 indicate that there are complications beyond
A general frontier uprising. India itself re-
mains remarkably quiet. II there exists any
secret intention Of revolt whom all the available
forces have been sent north, no sign of 1t has
been vouchsafed. The Amecr, also, is stin lying
low. The authorities, both at home and in
India, seem to consider the problem to DO
,,rictly confined TO the present obvious features.
Curious stories are coming about the fanatical
methods which have been employed to drive the
tribes TO revolt. The so-called Mad Mullah hos
been the chief inciter of rebellion. This Is o
sample: Some days before tho attack Of Mala-
kand, the Mad Mullah at Brana. the principal
town in lower Swat, put one OF the chiefs into q
trance and asked him what he saw. The. man
replied:
81 see the hills around crowded with true be-
levers and the hosts Of hoaven with them.
Down below are sahibs, some dead on the
RrOunu, OtneTS ucluB AoiioNSu III bhoiu ny
Mohammod's followers In the distance top
khana are coming but soon they fec. and all the
inhdels are killed or dying"
The Mad Mullah is n esmer Of no mean
order. The tribesmen follow him as q prophet.
In order that they should not doubt the eff.
cheney OF the pink rice which he gave his follow
crs to insure invulnerability, he explained that
the wound which he had received in the hand he
got by clutching q bayonet in an attack.
Tho fierce criticism of q section of the Liberal
press upon the Government policy In India has
had, to all appearances. no influence upon the
country. The majority of EnGlishmen, in fact,
are simply revealing in the stories of fighting on
the frontier and gloating over the prospect of
big battles In a week or two. The Radical poll
ticiaus have been bringing pressure to bear
upon the leaders Of the opposition in tho hope Of
inducing them to take the stump against the
Government, but without success SO far. Sir
William Vernon Harcourt is engaged in the
familiar operation OF balancing himself upon
the top Of the fence. and nothing short OF a
British defeat is likely to bring him down.
II has boon reported that the home Govern
mcnt was not giving the Indian Government o
free hand to deal with the frontier tribes. As q
matter OF fact, the business from the first has
been recognized MS one with which those on the
spot were best qualified to deal. Lord George
Hamilton, Secretary for India, is the last man
in tho world TO take independent action or as
sumo any responsibility which he possibly could
shirk. He probably is the least influential mem.
Der OF the Cabinet, and never would have been
In the Ministry il he did not belong TO ono of the
socalled ruling families" for which 1t is part
Of the duty aud privilege Of every Tory Govern
ment to provide at the expense Of the taxpayers.
At the beginning Of the trouble Hamilton
cahled tho Indian Government to the effect that
they might 20 in and win without worrying
London. Then he went to the country shooting
grouse. He even caused q scandal among the
Anglo-Indian b~ureaucrata. by Quitting to attend
the weekly meetings OF the council for India
until last Thursday. His natural Incidence has
eauasd him to follow the right course. There 4,
grim work 10 be done In tho wild mountain
country on the northwest border. and there are
competent men on tho spot to do It Any at
tempt to fetter their hands would amply invite
disaster. Doubtless the fighting men will &C
cupy tho boards until the 9th Of November
Then Lord Salisbury will start the takers In
ming with q big speech at the Lord Mayors ban
quet in the GuildhaQ.