The Washington herald., 1906-10-14

Shah Muzaffar-ed- Din's recent grant of
a constitution, and Of a parliamentary
form OF government to the people of
Persia. has been followed by the an
nouncement that China is on the eve OF
inauguratlng a similar innovation and
that an imperial commission at Pefin
has. In accordance with the directions OF
the Dowager Empress. and of the all
powerful Viceroy OF Tientsin, drawn up
a scheme for the organization Of Ha-
ti0nal legislature on the lines Of that
Of Japan Under ordinary circumstances
the substitution of a popular regime for
an autocracy, would command the SYM
pathy of the United States and of Great
BrItain-a sympathy TO which they have
given vigorous and eloquent expression
in connection with the crisis that now
prevails in Russia. But it Is impossible
that they should view with anything but
misgiving this spread of constitutional
ism In Asia. since the surrender by the
monarchs Of Japan, Slam. Persia and
China OF their absolutism, in response TO
popular elamOr. IS certain 10 impart
fresh vigor 10 the demands for analogous
concessions put forward by the natives
of the Philippine Islands and Of India
In both of these great Oriental de-
pendencies, the Asiatics outnumber the
white inhabitants by more than I.000 TO /.
and are just as fanatic In their hatred
of foreigners as are the Chinese, the
Persians and the japanese. British and
American rule in the Orient. while
humane orderly and conducive TO pros
perity, is eXecrated. and were anything in
fI.. 10
inausurated. either in the Philippines or
in Hindustan. it would render the admin
istratiOn of these dependencies well
nigh impossible, and sound the death
knell Of American and British supTem-
ccy In ono word. were India or the
philippines 30 be endowed with a par
lament, the latter would take the
earliest possible opportunity Of decree
ing the emancipation OF the people from
the hated sovereignty or the foreign
power TO which they are now subject
England has been compelled 20 accord
legislative autonomy 10 most OF her
colonies. with the result that these have,
in the case Of Canada. South Africa and
OF Australia. developed into something
very much akin to independent repub-
lies. bound only 10 the mother country
by close ties Of kiusmanship. and OF that
loyalty 10 the crown which seems in
born I'm every Englishman and which
never becomes more pronounced than
when he leaves home The population OF
Australia and OF Canada for the most
part is Of British origin. In India the
natives belong 20 another race. OF a diff
fcrent hue. and possessed Of civilization
that has little or nothing in common with
that Of Western nations There are no
ties Of blood, there are no bonds Of kins-
manship 10 maintain the union with Eng
land, and whatever loyalty there has
been 20 the British crown in the past.
has been dictated by shrewd policy rather
than by affection
IN moments of evaporation against
the mother country. South Africa. Can
ada and Australia have more than once
discussed The advantage of breaking
away altogether from Great Britain. and
the danger Of such an eveutuality tends
10 influence the imperial government IN
its dealings with its colonies. The peril
IN the ease of India, in this connection.
would be- Infinitely greater. since in lieu
OF racial sympathy there is racial an
tasOHisn, and the sentiments OF affection
entertained for the mother country ln
other English colonies are represented
by feelings Of hatred for the alien con-
queror The situation IS much the same
i'm the Philippines and that IS why #
will never be possible 30 accord 60 the
people Of the Philippines, OF OF India.
the parliaVcntary constitution which is
now being inaugurated in Persia and
China.
ANY one who has lived in the Orient.
or studied the conditions prevailing in
India. knows fun well that parliamentary
forms Of government are Incompatible
with British supremacy and even the
retention Of the Deccan. This. does not
prevent, however, an ever-srowing aEi-
tation among the natives. especially IN
Bengal for legislative representa- ion.
and for a native voice in the admins
tratiCn. This agitation K fostcrcd and
promoted by 4 number Of wr0ngne0ded
Englishmeu. whose judgment and patri-
otism are lamentably inferior TO their
gifts Of eloq1ence and talents of organi-
zation. They are men Of the type Of the
late Sir William Gregory, Sir Henry Cot
tOE and of Wilfrcd Blunt. The latter, in
deed. b. encouraging Arab Pasha III
his demands for Il national constitution.
and Tor a parliament, in 1882, was d-
rectly responsible for the insurrection
that ensued at Cairo, and which was
brought to a close by the English in
vasioH and military occupation OF Egypt. 7
Save when on one OCCASION Lord Croner
caused him 90 be expelled from Egypt.
Blunt has never been called to account
for thus Initiating and fOmentlng mis-
chief and has been permitted TO pursue
tactics of much the same order in India, 1
without any interference by the English
authorities The fact that he should
still be borne on the foreign office list
as a former Secretary OF Legation, and
as one-timc member Of Parliament,
as well as tie immunity and social pres
ligc which ic enjoys. all contribute 10
ondUw him with a far greater import
aucc than bee deserves IN the eyes of the
natives. who are led thereby 10 believe
that some dag or another his champion
sldp Of their deals may lead 10 impOs-
slUle concession 10y the British Govern
meHt.
To what extent the action of such men
as WlIrcd Blunt, and of those other In
glishnen and Americans who foster ma
tive discomfort and rebellion and assail
the government of their counuymcn IN
the Orient is promoted by Il mistaken
sense Of justice. il is difficult 10 say. one
is tempted TO believe however. that
vanity and a craze for not0riety are
not altogether foreign in the matter
and I'm This connection l may recall how
Edward Diccy. IA his STORY of the IIhc-
diviatc. describes how Wilfred Blunt, on
his arrival at Cairo for the winter Is
invariably met at the station by his camel,
on which he rides TO Shepherds Hotel q
distance Of barely five minutes walk,
sooner than take a carriage like an or
dinary Christian, or even Turk This
camel ride cannot be regarded as anything
else than as a piece Of self advertisement.
and it is in keoplng' with the character
of those English and Americans whose
ono Iaci~. IT, lff, 81 o-,. =, - .. ,,,..ty..