The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
rnr rRounLrs or 1NpIA.
Her financial Condition RotHrds Business-
Discontent Spreading.

DihcOntent bprehoinks
LONDON, Oct. b.-Acoording TO letters from
India, the appointment of Lord Kedleston.
formerly known as Mr.. Curzon. ito succeed Lord
Elgin in tho Vice-Royalty. has been received
with anything but satisfaction. Owing 10 the
new press law the newspapers. more %pnrticu-
larly the native newspapers. abstain from any
very strong expression OF opinion, but II may
be said that the nomination OF so pronounced
an exponent OF the forward policy Ia the cause
Of serious mIsRivlnGs. II not genuine alarm.
The financial condition OF India grows no
better. and the unsettled currency question re-
tards business. An active policy such as Is
foreshadowed by the announcement that the
guarding OF the Khyber Pass will be assumed
by the Indian Government. and that stringent
measures will he taken to complete the dis
armament Of the tribesmen in the surrounding
country. would further disorder the finances
already suffering through plague, famine. and
increasing impoverishment OF the people.
In some parts Of tho country the peasants
evicted from their lands through inability to
meet the increased rents are forming bands Of
dacoits. In one district OF the Bombay Presi-
doncy. Nassik. the dacoits have committed Sc
rious outrages on the MarWaris. the Raiput
money lenders. to whom they were indebted
for the means to meet the land rent tax. One
OF the dacolt leaders who was captured by the
Nassik police. in a voluntary confession made
In prison. declared that he had taken to rob-
berry. being no longer able to make a liv-
ing on the land and pay the Govern
ment taxes and the exorbitant interest
on the money he had to borrow. The
subject was brought up in the Bonn
bay Provincial Council. and one OF the mem
bers stated that OF his own knowledge at least
20 per cent. OF the peasantry were hope
a. L. u - AN-I
matter OF perhaps a short time before they
would abandon their lands and take to high
way robbery for a living. 1t Ia believed that to
add to the already heavy expenditure as COM
pared with revenue by launching out into a
policy OF military adventure beyond the from
tier. which Is what It is believed Lord Kedle-
stones advent In India woul moan, will be to
bring an absolute bankruptcy In India. or
force the British Government to bear all the
expense Of any operations undertaken.
Another matter that is agitating tho general
population throughout the country Is the in
creasinR number OF cases OF murder and as
sault Of natives by British soldiers. The Cal
cuttd EhoHshn,an. which has taken up the
subject. states that at least 30 per cont. OF the
cases Of British soldiers appearing in courts OF
Justice ARE for acts OF violence committed
natives. varying in all degrees from
simple assault to murder" That the matter is
not exaggerated is shown by the action Of the
Lieuten ant-General Commanding in the Ben
gal Presidency. Sir Baker Russell. one OF the
most distinguished among the older officers OF
the British Army. has found It necessary to is
sue an order on the subject. in which he COM
ments in the strongest terms on what he de-
nouncrs as the "cowardly'' practices INDUCED
in by soldiers toward the natives. and warns
them that II not discontinued they will lead to