The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-12
ENGLAND AND INDIA.

ENGLAND AND INDIA.
WHY does England look with such APP
,rehensiye dread on the Russian advance
towards Herat? Why have the Enshsn
statesmen for years feared the coming OF
the Russian troops into Afghanistan as IL
il meant the end of the world? Inc answer
eiven is because the Russian occupation
of Afchanistan would mean weakening
Of the British influence in India with per-
hans = loss of that country TO Great
Britain.
Now why should Great Britain worry so
much over India? If the information that
is so largely disseminated through the
papers be true. India is a great, trouble
some child that requires the ever watchful
eye of the British administration to pro
tect ii from untimely death by famine or
pestilence. To this task England ad-
dresses herself with the unseltishness of
truly benefcent power and the world
stands aside and watches England work
for the salvation of the Hinioo ryot VINO,
clad in lion cloth and turban. drives the
hurnp-backed buffalo through the rice fields
or calmly plows the wheat field that may
or may not produce a crop the gods see
fit
Meanwhile England protects India from
the coming of the Russian, puts down the
instructions among the wild tribes of the
North, who DO not want roads built
through their country and who very wisely
object to the construction of strong forti-
! tications in their mountain passes, ali of
which gives England plenty to do ana
gives the world a chance TO applaud the
magnificent defense of C6itral.
Meanwhile the Indian peasant pays the
taxes To any one who will study the In
dian budget some very good reasons will
appear why Great Britain desires TO keep
the Russian out and to keep the Indian
in For instance. we see that the total
revenue of India in 1898 was some 500 90o,-
in England mostly for pensions for retired
officers who have worn themselves out in
the attempt TO safeguard and protect Brit
ish prestige III India OF the revenue, We
see that 24O,9oc.oo0 rupees were spent i'll
India for the railroad account, 100000
for civil salaries, 2S000o,oO0 for the army.
while only 100000 were spent for famine
relief and insurance.
Now all this simply means that India
is being calmly and determnedly used as
a great treasure house from which England
draws every year an enormous sum OF
money in taxes, which is used for paying
the salaries of the army and the civil
officers who collect these taxes, and for
building railroads which are planned with
a special reference TO Strengthening the
military power of The dominant race.
India is only to a very slight degree a
manufacturing country. The total value of
exports of manufactured cotton in 1899 was
only 100000 rupees, while the export of
rice was 15Sooo,C0o rupees and the export
of wheat was 97.o0e0oe rupees. This means
| that India having gone through a terrible
plague. with the certainty of famine con-
| fronting ii. was allowed 10 export an cnor-
nous amount of wheat and rice in order
| that the balance of trade, which is almost
entirely With England. against her might
| be made good. In addition to the fair eX-
change of imports for exports there is, as
We istNS SHOWN ABOVE siii S'1iti"s1- S-Nt'NAi'7S
| of some 80 0o0.0o0 -upees, which are spent
! in England for salaries and pensions on
| account of service in India. The earth and
| the sun have probably done their share
| in causing the sorrow and misery which
! is now widespread in that desolated land.
| but would it not be proper for the British
| government TO do as Russia. has done on
| similar occasions and prevent by legislation
| the export of the wheat that is needed TO
! keep the people alive at home? Ireland is
| not the only country that suffers from
] absenteesm.