The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-10
ASIA FOR THE AsIATICS.
Tho Feeling Of India Descyibed by an
Educated Hindu.

Educated Hindu.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir: have
been much interested, since coming to this
part Of the world three years ago. In the
articles which have appeared in THE sun on
matters relating to India, and have been
eratifed to notice more than once contri-
buttons from my countrymen OF India throw
Ing valuable light on important Indian prob
lens. In your paper Of June 20 appeared
letter entitled mo General Asiatic Spirit. In
reply to a remark In which 1t was alleged that
the name Of the Mikado Ia whispered with
mysterious reverence" In India and Turkestan
alike. and that AL differences OF creed are
sunk under the electrlfying influence Of racial
gratitude and pride" The writer tMr. Crosby
Is perfectly right In bringing out the fact that
any Idea OF a solidarity Of race feeling has no
historic basis for Asia as a whole. i speak
from knowledge gathered from private letters
and newspapers sent to me every week from
India. that there is no such mysterious rever-
ence" for the Mikado In that land.
The present war and the victorious career
OF Japan In 1t have shown to the various
races OF India only the great possibilities that
are In store for Asiatio races II they will sue
cessfully master the principles OF material
progress and assimh ate the methods Of Euro
pean warfare. Japanese victories have
heightened lndia's respect for Japan in
limited sense. as being successful adapters
and shrewd users Of the products Of Western
civilization. There is, however. not the least
probability OF a Mikado worship In India, for
India Is already overburdened with more
gods than the Hindu cares to look after.
Japanese gentleman writing to a 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 power in world politics. but, now
that she has vanquished a Western nation
(even yet regarded by England as a serious
menace to her Indian empire) with Western
weapons. she is accounted a great nation.
The fact Is that greatness is measured in the
West by ones ability to strike a good. hard
physical blow" whereas in the East great
ness rests on those mmutable principles Of
conduct which have been exalted by the
noblest and eyeatest world teachers, Gautama
the Buddha and Jesus the Christ (both Orien-
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
East whereas might is right" is the basic
principle Of the christian" nations of the
West, Those Of your readers who wish to
discover q recent illustration Of the latter
statement may read an article in the current
number OF the Forum. entitled The British
Invasion OF Tibet, while those who would
learn What the East Can Teach the West"
can spend profitable 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--no
one is sound. no is not equally fortunate
In the use Of his arguments. He lays too
much stress on irrigation. adding that it
produces "suff1ciency," and thus the stimulus
10 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
lndias food supply depends largely upon
the monsoons periodic rainfal III and on the
water supply which results from them as
we'll as from the ever melting SHOWS of the
Himaayas., Irrigation. canals which were
CONSTRUCTED , under native rule. as we'll as
culturist, although valuable as aids in the
=, AS for midas famines. far from being an
Inevitable DOOM" they are the result not
80 much Of natural causes as of thu. un-Chris-
her administration Of the affairs of a divided
alien populace The history Of iamnes in
history OF India in pre- British times, Evil
IDENTIFY Mr.; Crosby Is not aware that the two
the last decade OF the nineteenth century.
and that throughout the famine years. In
SPITE Of deficient rainfall and primitive meth
grain supply TO feed the wretched, overtaXed
victims Of starvation, who suffered because
they had nothuft1cient money left TO buy the
II is becoming fashion with many to take
winter trip through Anglicl2ed portions Of
tional books or newspaper articles. which
are often meant to amuse rather than instruct
and thereby to ,command, sale among a
such writer's; for. as X pipe has so Well put it.
too busy to reply to silly bels on nt th%ir Tr fe
and manners A Journey through Central
Asia. parts of Tibet and India, does not con-
thortv on the past history and present con-
dtions of India with her 800, 600 900 people
OF such tourists tNrsd kipnss personal eHpsri
DISSIPATION always leads to the forming Of
nas' ppr eh NH, is by NO means difficult
to detect: for it betrays itself nvoluntariy
through the use Of certain phrases and ex-
favor OF or against which it is prejudiced.
In the article unier consideration MIR, Crosby.
in to the nndq them
gall" ""servile,'" &c, May ask in all serious
ness, does he know that all Hindus are, not
been military races in India, such as the Goor-
khas. the Mahrattas. the Pathans and the
Sikhs which in the past without European
leadership and discinlne) have achieved and
still maintain a military renown Of which
a discriminating assimilation of Western
methods OF warfare they are more than likely
to prove superior to the Japanese or any foe
worthy Of their steel
The statement that -the man In the Indian
bazaar" is trbnlly near to the Westerner is sub
iect to very important modification. The
number Of Indian natives who have not
A drop Of Arvan blood exceeds the number OF
those who rightful.ly can claim ,Aryan de.
scent, Qualities Of COURAGE and personal
soldier Of the Oriental as Of the Occidental
sections of the Aryan race. with the difference
that the Hindu soldier. unlike his Western
brother. has always b.; CIV under severe
The closing mart Of the article assumes
that 1t ia a matter of perfect indifference to
the RenRali (Which term ia presumably used
by Mr.. Crosby as synonym for "Hindu"l |
as to who rules oyer him. and that he has
always been "tmid" and "seryile" under any
master that might hsppen along: Nothing
l., st MIDI Uopld hoy Inf