The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-25
BRITISH RULE INDIA.

The British are now carrying on IeC-
hot warfare in South Africa, and unless
there be surrender OF. the part OF the
Boers, or Intervention on the part Of some
of the European powers. which is highly
Improbable, the war will be fought to
finish, and Great Britain will not stop
fighting until the Beers shall have been
subdueG. The causes which have led to
this war have been fully discussed, and
men have made up their minds this way
OF tina. as tt how far Great Britain was
iustiiiable il taking up arms But in JUS
tic. to the great English nation let US
tu1n from t;lis picture to another. Let
us brush the smoke Of battle from our
eyes and look from South Africa to LII
dia. where British rule is supreme. There
Is a great fa mine in India and millions OF
people arc without the means OF support,
hut the government has not left them to
starve. 1t is said that probably four mil
lion people are now dependent on the
E.itish-Indian government for existence.
That is more than the entire population
of Soul Africa below the Zambesi river.
writer in one Of the northern news
rapcrs. in discussing the situation in In
di;i, says: 6
In the old DAYS, before British rule was
SET up in India, the problem would nave
been much more easily solved man now.
The people. would have been permitted 10
die like so many flies in a frost. Ihat
was what used t. happen periodically un-
famine
1863 fully three million persons persisted,
and that was by no means a record break
ing famine But the let alone policy Is
not approved by the present government
1t is considered now reproach 10 inc
rulers of India that any Of its people
should die Of famine, and so whenever
unfarorable weather makes food scarce
and the inhabitants begin to starve the
treasury is opened for their relief at rlsk
of a deficit in the next budget.
But the government is judicious In be-
slowing aims. In this emergency It mas
provided the people with employment on
government works and pays them wages
With which they may purchase supplies
Canals are being eXcavated, roads are be-
ing constructed, and other public work OF
this sort is being carried on in order that
the destitute may find employment
we shall not pause here to discuss the
question as to whether or not government
should undertake public improvements OF
this character for the sole purpose OF CIV
ing work to the unemployed. AS an ao-
stract proposition, our readers know that
Tho Times is opposed to it so far as this
country is concerned, but the situation in
India is different, and the government
does not stop to discuss abstract ques-
tions of public policy when the people are
starving to death. In undertaking 10 gov
ern India England assumed grave re-
sponsIbility and we think that she may
fairly claim to have measured honestly
and heroically up to the requirements.
Wherever her flag has been planted there
she has carried progress. civilization. sooa
government and benevolent assinila-
ton She has been a blessing to India
and to every other land that she has
brought under the sphere of her influence
1t has been her policy to let the people
govern themselves, and to aid them in up
lifting themselves and improving their
condition AS result OF this policy, and
as an evidence of her beneficent rule, all
her colonists are as loyal to the British
Aag as those Englishmen who are to the
manor born.
Great Britain is fierce in war, but she is
quite amiable and beneticent in peace.