The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-01

that in all the states the rovern,,ar+
 could De administered without the ald
 or so large a number of Europeans9
 Ine second argument is equally un-
 sound To say that the Indians would
 necessarily fight among themselves is 10 10 Ignore the progress of the world. | mere was time when Europe was
 the scene of bloody religious wars. and
 our country is indebted to the perse-
 cution of the Pilgrims in England for 1 some of its best pioneers. There has been a growth in religious tolerance during the last century, and this is as noticeable in India as elsewhere AL l ready the intellectual leaders of all the sects and elements of the Indian pop- ulatien are mingling in congresses, conferences and public meetings. AL ready national spirit is growing which. like the national spirit in Eng land and America, disresards religious lines and emphasizes more and more the broad social needs which are com mon to all; and with the increase of general education there will be still more unity and national sentiment. Those who make this argument also forget that as long as England main taips sovereignty 1t will be lmpossi- ble for religious differences to lead to war and that differences in council and in congress would strengthen rather than weaken her position. 2
 But why is there a lack of intelli- genee among the Indians7 Have they not had the blessings of British rule for several generations? Why have they not been fitted for self govern ment? Gladstone, whose greatness of head and heart shed a luster upon all Europe, said: Tt is liberty alone which fits men for liberty. This prop osition. like every other in politics, has it's bounds; but 1t is far safer than the counter doctrine. wait till they are fit"
 How long will it take to fit the In- dians for self government when they are denied the benefits of experience? They are excluded from the higher civil service (ostensibly open to them) by cunningly devised system of ex- aminatioEs which make it impossible for them to enter. Not only are the people thus robbed of opportunities which rightfully belong to tn sm. but the country is deprived of the accumu- lated wisdom that would come with service, for the alien officials return to Europe at the end of their service. carrying back their wisdom and earn tngs, not to speak of the pensions which they then begin to draw.
 The illiteracy of the Indian people is a disgrace to the proud nation which for a century and half has controlled their destiny. The lditor of The In dian World, Calcutta magazine, says in last Februarys number:
 If India has not yet been fit for free institutions. it is certainly not her fault. If. after one and a half centu- ries of British rule, India remains where she was in the middle aGes, what a sad commentary must 1t be up- on the civilizng influences of that rule! When the English came to India this country was the leader of Aslatic civ ilization and the undisputed center of light in the Asiatlc world. Japan was then nowhere Now. in fifty years Ja- pan hes revolutionized her history with the aid of modern arts of progress, and India, with 15O years of English rule. is still condemned to tutelage."
 Who will answer che argument pre- sented by this Indian editor? And he might have made it stronger. Japan, the arbiter of her own destiny and the guardian of her own people, has in half q century bounded from illiteraey to a position where 90 per cent of her peo-
 sCOntinued on Page 1S.)