The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-10
ASIA FOE THE AsIArICs.
Tho Feeling OF India Described by an
Educated Hindu.

RTatlued TO notice more than once coh'i'-
buttons from my couutrymen OF India throw
Ing valuable light on important Indian PROB
lens. In your paper Of June 20 appeared
letter entitled NO General Asiatic Spirit, in
reply 10 a remark in which 1t was alleged that
the namc Of the Mikado Is whispered with
mysterious reverence" in India and Turkestan
alike. and that "all differences OF creed are
sunk under the electrfying influence OF racial
gratitude and pride" Tho writer (Mr. Crosby
Is perfectly right In bringing out the fact that
any idea OF solidarity OF race feeling has no
historic basis for Asia as a whole. speak
from knowledge gathered from private letters
and newspapers sent to me every week from
India, that there Is no such mysterious revcr-
ence" for the Mix ado in that land.
The present war and tho victorious career
OF Japan in II have shown to tho various
races Of India only the great possibilities that
are in store for Aslatio races II they will sue
cessfully master the principles OF material
progress and assimilate the methods Of Euro
pean warfare. Japanese victories have
heightened lndia's respect for Japan in n
limited sense, as being successful adapters
and 'shrewd users OF the products OF Western
civilization. There is, however, not the least
probability OF Mlkado worship In India. for
India is already overburdened with moro
gods than the Hindu cares to look after.
Japanese gentleman writing TO New
York paper some time ago commented on the
fact that although the genius Of his people
had manifested itself in masterpieces Of art
which have been the despair Of European
would-be imitators, Japan had no recognized
place as a power In world politics; but, now
that she has vanauished Western nation
(even yet regarded by England as a serious
menace to her Indian empire) with Western
weapons. she Is accounted q great nation.
The fact IL that greatness Is measured in the
West by ones ability 10 strike a good. hard
physical blow, whereas In the East great
ness rests on those immutable principles OF
conduct which have been exalted by the
noblest and greatest world teachers, Gautama
the Buddha and Jesus the Christ (both Oren-
tails. by the way. 1t is one Of the curious
puzzles of modern times that the spirit Of the
Sermon on the Mount should breathe through
the normal thought and be largely apparent
in the life of the heather" nations of the
last; whereas might Is right" is the basic
principle Of the Christian" nations of the
West Those Of your readers who wish to
discover recent illustration OF the latter
statement may read an article In the current
number of the Fornu, entitled The British
Invasion OF Tibet" while those who would
learn What the East Can Teach the West"
can spend proiita BILE half hour In reading an
article bearing that title in Public Opinion
Of June II.
Returning to Mr.. Crosby's letter. however.
while his conclusion that Asia is many--not
one" is sound, he is not equally fortunate
In the use OF his arguments. He lays too
much stress on irrigation, adding that it
produces "sufficiency," and thus the stimulus
to strenuous endeavor and invention is lost.
He then assumes an inevitable doom of
occasional famine Observant people who
have lived in India cannot help knowing that
midas food supply depends largely upon
the monsoons periodic rainfalD and on the
water supply which results from them. as
well as from the ever melting SHOWS of the
Himalayas. s1rr cation canals which were
constructed under native rule. as well as
those of British origin, are few and far be-
tween. and are not the mainstay Of the agri-
culturist, although valuable as aids IN the
distribution OF water.
inevitable DOOM. they are the result not
so much Of natural causes as Of the un-Chris-
tian economic policy, pursued by England in
alien populace. The history OF faminss in
India since Cliye's victory at Plassey asp
stands in ghsftly contrast ste to the econ1mio
greatest iami9es Of India occurred during
the last DECADE or ,he tba Sear
spite of deficient rainfall and primitive meth
DDS OF agriculture, there was s,ifhcient
victims of starvation. who suffered because
they had not sufficient money LETT to buy the
winter trip through Anglczed portions of
India, or other Asiatic lands. and write sensa
tional books or newspaper articles, which
are. often meant to amuse rather than instruct.
and thereby to command q sale among a
people ever fond of novel modes Of excite
ment. We in India hay have no quarrel with
toe, busy to reply to silly libcls on, their life
and pars 81 TIBET a hrG Goss sn5n
ettute sufficient claim to speak with au-
thority on the past history end present CON
az ssh OF tonrs a s KpInrs personal expert
ence has forced him to complain that they
we're travelling for pleasure; and that sort Of
hasty and Incorporate views
A preudiced mind is by no means difficult
to detect, for it betrays itself involuntarily
pressions in speaking about the subject in
favor of or against which it is prejudiced.
In the article under consideration Mr., Crosby.
in referring to the Hindus. stigmatizes them
as "shccp.' frightened Hindu" "timid Ben
gall. "servile.'" &c May ask in all serious
ness. does be know that all Hindus are not
fh as tho the Mahrattas, the 'Pathans and the
iea ni.S and discipline, have achieved and
still maintain a military renown 81 which
any, Western nation might be proudn With
methods OF warfare they are more than likely
to provo superior TO the Japanese or any foe
worthy OF their steel.
bazaar" Is trlbally near to the Westerner is sub
ject to a very important modification, The
number Of Indian natives who have not OF
s sGent. ~c onaitos conrars and PERSONAL
s ssr % 2r the G as & SH
sections of the Aryan race, with the difference