The sun., 1903-07-25
NEW BOOKS.
British India To-day.

Il essays tSd'kMk AOA lLC utOnU HdIb WAbIl JL0
Anglo-Indian Empire. The essays on
The India OF the Queen.' on Popular
Movements in India. The Ruin of Aur-
anzeb," and "England's Work in India !"
which collectively cover nearly two hum
dred pages, may be regarded as supple
mentary to the authors History Of British
India the second volume of which ended
with the union OF the old and new East
India Companies under the Earl Of Godol-
phins award in 1908. In the essays mem
toned Sir William Hunter, having traced
the evolution of Victorian India. describes
the elements of activity brought into play
and endeavors 10 forecast their direction
Until the eve of the Mutiny Of 1857, such
education as existed in British India was
organized on a purely religious basis.
He who would discuss the effects of sucn
an educational system must comprehend
the spirit Of Hinduism and Of Islam. Sir
William Hunters experience had con-
vinced him that both of these creeds DOS
,ess great vitality. have retained a large
measure of elasticity, and exercise benefi-
cent influence on aboriginal tribes who
are haunted by the imaginary terrors Of
demon worship. The attitude Of Anglo
Indian administrators toward the social
activities represented by these religions
: dictated by expediency; its rationale
was set forth in the report Of the Education
Commission over which Sir William Hunter
presided IN 1881. At present the scheme
# public instruction applied in British In
dia has been remodeled on secular prn-
cplcs, and the outcome OF it has been an
tpheaval OF new ideas, >quickening OF
new social and political forces and dead
enng of the old fanaticism, dismember-
ment Of the old superstitions and the death
Of old beliefs. 1t is this new leaven which
forms the subject Of the fourth essay on
'England's Work in India" The author
recognizes that the aspirations Of an edu-
Gated class are fraught with political danger,
but he deems them preferable on the whole
to those arising from bigotry and ignor-
ance. He is confident that the vassal
princes have gained loftier sense Of duty
to their subjects and of loyalty 70 the para
mount power. 1t is certain that the i'm
mnence Of collision with Russia in 1885,
and the war cloud which hung over the
northwestern frontier two years later,
elected very different feeling from that
which had been excited by the old cam
paigns in Burmah, Afghanistan and the
Puhjab
Al he dates named, the feudatory chiefs
We'd with each other in profrering money
and troops for the defence Of the Anglo
Indian Empire. Sir William Hunter was
one Of those Anglo-Indians who urged
hat advantage should be taken OF these
impulses, and that the armed rabble which
had been maintained by the native States
should be fashioned by European discipline
into second line OF defence The aspira-
ions Of the educated classes we're for
mulated by the national Congresses,
which met annually after 1896. and found
a champion, though a discriminating one,
in the uthor of these essays. He ad-
vocated the establishment of the Indian
Councils on representa alive basis and
claimed for them the right Of interpret
lating the Government and criticising he
Budget. The Secretary of States Councils
should, he thought, be strengthened by
the inclusion Of an Indian element. An
ticipating an event which was probably
due to his prompting. he declared that
anv English constituency which should
choose an Indian to represent it in Parlia.
"
Al the same time Sir william Hunter did
not approve Of all the reforms proposed
by British friends or professed friends Of
the natives of India. II may be remem-
bered that in 1890 Mr.. Charles Bradlaugh
introduced in the House of Commons a
bill which contemplated large additions
10 the strength Of the Provincial Councils
In British India, and cut-and-dried sys-
'em of electoral colleges bearing fixed
ratio to population. Sir William Hunter
did not consider India ripe for numerical
representation, and gave his support to a
counter-proposal made by Lord Cross, who
was then Secretary OF State. Under the
latter'5 bill, which was discussed by Parlia-
ment in 1890, the principle of election was
restric; ed to municipalities, district boards
and similar public bodies. This qualified
innovation was ultimately carried into
effect by Lord Lansdowne, who also con-
coded the right of interI ellating and Of
discussing the Budget. The concession
satisfied TO a certain extent the political
ambitions Of educated Indians, but its
value had been lessened by the virtual
monopoly of representation which the
lawyer class secured.
Sir William Hunter is not one Of those
optimistic Anglo-Indian administrators who
regard British rule as an unmixed bless
ing TO the natives df India. He could
recognize another side to the picture, and
he did not hesitate to direct attention to
II. He pointed out that while good work
had been done by his countrymen in India,
greater difficulties now confront them.
They are face to face with the saddest
problems with which State can be called
upon to deal, to wit, the seemingly ir-
renedable poverty of the people and the
apparent inability OF the Government to
pay its way. With these fundamental
problems yet unsolved, he deemed it a
delusive optimism TO speak of the success
Of the British Administration. at profits
little. he said. that we have put an end
TO invasion from without; established
order and security in place OF anarchy
and rapine within: covered the land with
-chools and court houses; with roads, rail
ways and canals, and given vast impulse
to population and trade-au this profits
ntIe il the people have not enough to
eat and if the country cannot support
the cost Of our rule" He adds that If the
British nation had realized the poverty
Of India it would have refrained from
several acts which now form standing re-
proacheI against England in the native
press. unfortunately under pressure OF