The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-21
rrDrlr r1r1orAb looranrsa
orderly Rueeuns nenonstrates AEninst uritish
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~ the Terry Press

ORDERLY rIeettnn Benonntrntea Agntnet BFitt9n
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ~ the Terry Fress-
The thirteenth congress Of the Indian Ma.
tional Association recently held at Amraoti,
In India, was remarkable for tho conditions
undor which it met, the composition Of
tho body Of delegates, their numbers, and
the uuanimity Of its proceedings. Notwith.
standing the social and political disturbance
now ~reigning In India, 700 delegates assembled
from all parts Of the country comprising Hin
docs, Mohammedans. Parsoes, Christians, Jains,
Sikhs, and Jews. 1t would DO almost impossi-
bic to find q moro remarkable example Of tho
civilizing power Of liberal education than tho
fact that men Of such differing races and crceds
as were represented at this gathering could
meot in harmony TO discuss questions OF vital
interest to their common country ut so momen-
tous a period Of Its history.
According to its habitual custom the English
Tory press tried to throw contempt on tho dele
gates and their proceedings. 1t ridiculed their
pretensions to be representatives of anything
or any ono but themselves. expressed strong
doubts of their expressions Of loyalty. and
characterised their criticisms Of the British Ad-
ministration as approaching the verge Of Sc
dition. The inconsistency Of the English Tory
press was very well pointed out in one of the
radical papers in its m on the way in
which, when the Indian people gave no voice to
their discomfort, they were described as being
dumb. and when they complained they were as
sailed with invective and threats.
The proceedings Of the Congress were naturally
directed to the burning questions Of tho day
tho famine. the plague, the frontier policy of the
British administration. the arbitrary arrests
and detention Of persons without trial. the
gagging CT the press. and proposed measures
tending to limit individual liberty. The frontier
policy involving increased expenditure ut the
cost Of the Indian taxpayer was condemned,
and a resolution was unanimously passed call
ing on tho British Parliament to relieve India
of the expense. Resolutions in favor Of stimuli.
taneous examinations for the civil service
being hold in England and India; of a permanent
land settlement as a means Of preventing pow
orty and securing improvement; the separation
of judicial an executive functions in criminal
cases. and q searching inquiry by tho newly APP
pointed Famine Commission. werc passed on the
second day.
On the third day tho subjects that most occu.
pied the attention Of the congress- wcre the
press laws and the cases arising out OF their
recent Vigorous Application ntnnn.oa PROTESTS 70 ,Sa we
Code by which magistrates are TO BIO vested
with the power to try cases of s%edition, and to
demand %sureties from persons accused of spread
ing disaffection; and u resolution that was
passed demanded the came safeguards for the
so much attention was given to this particular
subject was that the proposed changes would
open the door TO secret remuneration, always
rife in India, and produce terror in tho public
mind. At the conclusion of the congress- It was
resolved that the next meeting should be held
at Madras.
There Is no indication in the tone of the organs
Of the party at present in power in England in
their treatment of these questions that the &c.
ton of the Government will be affected by any
| thing said or done at the congress. II has en-.
| tered on n course from which it is either unable
has involved so much loss of life and prestige
has TO be carried out; and the commander, Sir
w. Lockhart, under whom the recently closed
operations were carried out, has been called
back to England to enlighten the Government
on matters that have not been much commented
on in the English press. but have caused much
disquiet in the public mind. The British Gov
Parliament to provide any part of the cost OF
the frontier campaign. and the Indian admins
tration appears to share that anxiety. Its
inouthpiece and principal organ, the Pioneer OF
Allahabad. expresses this feeling In some nota'
BILE sentences. 1t says:
The mischief OF parliamentary interference with
Indian affairs has been conspicuous and serious in the
past, but It would be exaggerated a hundredfold II
the British workman came to think that. as he wa.
paying for the Indian concern, he had an indefeasiblt
right to control its working.
From this 1t Is evident that tho great object Of
the Indian administration Is to avert the effec
tive control that would DO exercised either by
an awakened British electorate or a native In
dian legislature Of even the most restricted
kind. That 1t may succeed in this for q LITTLE
time longer is possible. but the impulse given BY
of self-government is one that cannot be resisted
indefinitely.