The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-09
Lord Curzon's Reforms.

Lord CURzoN's viceroyalty has begun
well; better. indeed. than most people
who had read his books and watched his
Parliamentary career expected Two meas
ures of reform, long asked for by Indian
civilians and long resisted by the bureau
crazy at Simla. already stand to his credit
Others are promised before long. II he is
eblo TO reduce the dominating influence OF
the military clique as he has brought tho
powers OF the Secretarial within proper
limits, he will leave behind him the rcputa-
ton OF being one of the most useful Vice
roys ever sont to govern India.
There has been plenty of evidence within
the last four or five years that British rule
In India is not so popular as it was once,
This is due in great part to the attacks of
the native press, which are never answered
except in the journals written for and by
Englishmen. The Government Of India lis
tens to all criticisms with closed lips. Its
officials, like the members OF the civil SER
vice in England, are forbidden to reply. The
rule works well enough in England where
there are always two parties, one to attack
and the other to defend; but in India no
ono not in the employ OF the Government
- III JuoIh ing Ohc =
measures and as all its servants are con-
demned to silence, the Administration
stands In the anomalous position Of being
continually under fire without an opportu-
nifty OF meeting and routing It's critics.
This undoubtedly Ia the handspring OF
Tho present unpopularty OF the British
Eulc. 1t Is the result Of fundamental error
Of policy in trying to govern India on pop
alar lines, and it can be remedied only
either by abolishing a free press, which is
now out OF the question, or by founding
official and subsidized papers to do battle
with the native writer's which Is probably
what Lord CURzoN will do. But there arc
other reasons to account for the growing
eetrangement of the people from their
Nlers. The natives complain that the
civilians OF to-day neither know the people
rs we'll nor feel for them the same patri-
Archal affection as the civilians Of gem
Grafton ago ; and the English complain that
the old confidence and respect yielded to
Collectors are now things of the past.
The unit Of administration in India Is tho
District, with an average area Of s,s75
square miles and an average population of
$50, 9e5 people. At Its head Is the Collec-
Tor. who. with his immediate assistants, Is
responsible for the collection Of revenue,
the condition Of the roads and buildings.
end the maintenance OF the peace Thirty
years ago the Collector welded an i'm
mense personal influence quite apart from
his Official position. He was kept some
times for fifteen or twenty years in the
same district. His time was not taken up.
as 1t Is now, with making out reports and
memoranda for tho benefit OF the Score
tnrial. He was left pretty much to his
own devices and allowed to trust to his
own Judgment, In time he became &C
Quainted with the domestic history OF
every important family In his district.
The landed gentry held him in the same re.
spect as parent. brought their difficulties
and disputes to him for settlement, and
voluntarily kept him informed OF the feel.
Ing in tho neighborhood
Nowadays the Collector Is morelv nm
agency for executing official orders. He
cannot move hand or foot without permits.
sion from headquarters. The natives arc
aware that he Is deprived OF personal inita
tiv" and no longer respect or contide in him
Instead they send their complaints or sug.
gcstions to Simla over his head More
over, tie custom has grown up Of con
stantly transferring Collector from one
district to another II Is rare NOWADAYS
fo- = Collector to see two orops harvest ed
in the same district. tho system works
badly both for the Government and the ma
lives Or the oac hand nm officers tim,
and energy are wasted in getting up til,
fresh FACTS and peculiar details and dialect,
a. his new district, and until he has mas
tered these ne is practically in the hand.
OF his suOordinates; and on the other hand
the nsstSes viii not conade in stranger