The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
BRITISH INDIAN LAWS.
''Disanrection" Punishable by Life Iuprisou.
m~eut-Letters TO he Opened.


CALCUTTA. Jan. 25.-Tho fighting on the
northwestern frontier being temporarily sus.
pended, 1t may interest the outside world to
know something Of what is going on in the In
terror of.India. Things could hardly be worse
with US short of an actual outbreak of insurrec-
ton. The amendments proposed to the Indian
Pena.Code are of such q nature as to place
every one at.the mercy.of any person who may
bear him enmity, and the burden of proof does
not lie with the informer. but it is the accused
who has to disprove tho cr%ime:with which he
may be charged. Almost needless to say that
tho very prospect Of such amendments being
made to tho existing law, which is drastic
enough in itself. is throwing tho community
into o state of terror. Then, again, the new
postal regulations give absolute power to Gov
eminent officials to tamper with tho post, and
immunity is assured them II they only plead
that they do It to prevent O breach of tho pub
lie tranquility. That this power Is unneces-
sary even for extraordira airy emergencies Is
shown by tho fact that the viceroy has statute
power to pass any law he may see fit, which Is
good for six months. without reference to any
one. subsection 3 of section % of tho Indian
Post Office bill says:
Any postal article known or suspected to be sent
by post In contravention or tho provisions OF sections
10 or go may. II necessary, be opened and the article
itself or its contents destroyed under the authority of
the General.
And egain. section 90 of the same bill says:
Subsection /. On the occurrence of any public
emergency. or IN the interest of tho public safety or
tranquility. the Goverpor.G General in council or q
local Government. or any Official specially authorized
in this behalf by tho Governor-General in council,
may. by order in writing. direct that any postal
article or class or description of postal articles In
course of transmission by post shall bs intercepted or
detained. or shall be delivered to the Government. or
to an ofioer thereof mentioned In tho order. to bo
disposed of in such manner as the Governor General
in council may direct.
Subsection 9. II any doubt arises as to the existence
of q public emergency. or as to whether any act done
under subsection l was In the interest of the public
safety or tranquility. . certificate signed by q Score,
tary to the Government of India or 20 the local Gov.
eminent shall be conclusive proof on the point.
Tho margin thus given for excuses of power
on the part of subordinate officials IL too clearly
and widely indicated in the above quoted SEQ
lions Of the measure now about to become law
will no doubt find It difficult TO Imagine why
they are II they do not know what is that is
stirring them up. I will not say to rebellion, but
government as now adopted all over India.
Under the am an emo seRt t. tho Penal Code:
and all feelings Of enmity or ill.will" to the Gov.
eminent, and this disloyalty may be expressed
or pib by y1 vlsibii e,in Spr eSenea SG " OF othef GT Hy s"'s snd
shorter term. to which hno may be added, or
years, to which nne may be added, or with
fne;" America as, whatever they may think
pose pe saG that pSit they '%iRO apply y' to saS or taMsi % oniy Sf the
Individual accused and Convicted under them.
but this, would DO an error, for the fine part.
hero In India, can be made. to go much further.
It may affects whole circle of relatives of vary
An example of thls'has been givsn in tho case
OF Two brothers Natu. In Poona, who were. ar
without accusation or trial, merely on a Gov
Secretary OF State for India In London. Not
only has their share of the family property been
t eSep family. WHICH, Iat sh in I Ga lhe Is of hSld im IN eo%mo ot
This is nothing but q return to tho most des-
potic and barbarous methods of centuries gone
not be surprised that unrest and uncertainty arc
prevailing ali over India, and great apprehen-
Recent Occurrences, such as isolated riots in
different parts of the country and other circum-
stances too intricate to detail, have shown that
masses of the Indian people. Strange rumors
about the end OF British rule In India, bred. no
doubt. Of ignorance and fed upon credulity, are
the people 10 that when the rulers Of the coun-
try are under the wrath Of God he a%tiiicts tho
rulers sins the people are leaving their hcr.c a.
escape disasters they are expecting. News Of.
this has come from Simla, Delhi, and other part
Many circumstances occurring lead TO the
belief that the Government contemplates War
them is the arrival here OF mules for transport
purposes all the way from Spain. II they were
Intended for the northwest campaign they
would have been landed az Kurrachi or Bonn
bay. 30 that their coming here points, to some
other direction. 1t Is not surprising, that with :
inuuisition even into mems thoughts, and in tho
Post Office act. and with the many rumors OF
all kinds that are about, every ono should DO