New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-21
MoHAMMBDAN WISDOM IN INDIA.

Mr.. Morley's admirable speech In Parliament
about British rule in India has been followed,
though not at all as a consequence, by what may
probably be regarded as the most noteworthy
native political utterance in Indian-at least In
modern Indian-history. With various Hindoo
petitions, memorials and programmes observers
of Indian affairs have long been YEARLY famil-
lar. These have been nothing more than babu
paraphrases of British and American works,
from the Declaration Of Independence to the
latest pamphlet Of the Fabrian Society. We
have scanned them IN vain for original thought
or q hint at constructive craftsmanship. The
only feature Of them which commanded any at
tention was their more or less yelled animosity
against British rule and their implied threats
Of rebellion against 1t. The memorial which the
Afohammedans of India have Just presented to
Lord Mnto the contrary, Is not only most
cordial and loyal in spirit but it is also instinct
with original and creative thought. considerably
conceived and logically applied to the special
and peculiar conditions which prevail in the
Indian Empire
The memorial requests, fundamentally, the
establishment Of a system OF representative pop
ular government That is something IN which
Mohammedans do not generally believe. and we
must assume that in seeking It In India they are
following not their own natural inclnations, but
| rather what they perceive to be the Inevitable
| trend Of British institutions. That is to say
they are convinced that the British, because of
the genius of British government, will In time
establish representative institutions In india
and they deem ii best not to resist but TO accept
the inevitable, and TO endeavor to adapt 1t as
far as possible 10 what they regard as their own
needs and the general welfare of the land. Hith-
erto the Indian Congress" scheme, blindly
urged by babus in India and their more or less
uniformed Eympathizers in Great Britain, has
meant the election Of a parliament or Of local
Legislatures with membership Unfortunately
apportioned to population. That would, of course,
mean the practical misrepresentation Of the
Mohammedans, although they comprise nearly
one-fourth Of the whole population, and include
q larger share Of the intelligent and substantial
elements This fact has indeed been recognized
by the Hindoos, who have said that in such case
the unrepresented Mohammedan minority must
trust the Hindoo majority for justice, as both
classes now have to trust Great Britain. But
it is obvious that the parallel is faulty great
third power external and disinterested, can cas-
lily hold the balance true between two rival
creeds or races. To expect one Of the latter to
do So between itself and its traditional and bit
ter rival, is TO expect entirely too much from
human nature All the good intentions and be-
neyolent promises IN the world would not prevent
the natural results-that acrimonious contests
would occur at the polls, that the Hindoo major
ity would sorely Cypress the unrepresented Mo-
hammedan minority, and that the long existing
feud between the two would be disastrousIy in
tenslfed.
The Mohammedans anticipating the creation
of legislature of some kind or of elected local
boards make a temperate and statesmanlike
proposal for warding off the danger which such
q system might seem TO threaten. They ask that
In case a representative government be estab-
lished, general or local, members shall be sep
arately apportioned TO the two creeds, so that
there shall be no rivalry between the two, and
so that each shall be assured Of its proportionate
representation. Thus, II to q certain district In
which the Hindoos were three-ouarters and the
Mohammedans were one-quarter, twelve mem
bers were assigned without regard TO creed III.
vision the Hindoos and the Mohammedans might
each nominate twelve candidates there would he
fierce fights at the polls, and the net result would
be that the Hindoos would elect all their men
and the Mohammedans none. But if instead az
the Mohammedans now propose. nine were ap-
portioned 10 the Hindoos and three to the Mo-
hammedans, there would be no contests save
friendly ones between Hindoos and between Mo-
hammedans, Ind the minority would be assured
of proportionate representation. The proposaI ot
such a scheme shows the Mohammedans of India
TO be possessed Of a thoughtful and patriotic
spirit, and 1t will doubtless make its due impres
sion on the British government The time for
representative parliament in India, or even
for elective loca! boards, may stu be far distant