The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-01
BY william Jennings Bryan. -
Copyright, 1906, by Joseph 3. Bowles
Copyright in Great Britain L "a
All Rights Reserved.) .@'.a-[s F,,'

All Rights heserVed.) s.r,sEs{s f.,
ssXX7HAT is truths'' : asked
asked the question he
went out without waiting for an an
swer. The question has been asked
many times and answered in many diff
ferent ways. I was reminded Of a
door of courthouse in Aligarh, India,
the motto: 'fJustice is the strength
of the British EMPIRE -.
No empire, no government, no socl-
ETY. can have any other source of per-
manent strength. Lord Salisbury is
quoted by Indian leaders as: saying:
" Injustice will bring down the might
lest to ruin, and we all 6eleve 1t:
when he said Ct quote from memory:
"You may build your capitals until
they reach the skies, but if they rest
upon, injustice, the pulse of woman
will beat them down. - - -.
But what is Justice? How varied
are the answers given!. The subject,
in the name of justice, presents his
appeal to his king, and the sovereign,
if he be a despot, may send him to
do It IN the name Of justice. What is
justiceq This question has been ring
ing in my ears during our journey
thru India.
When I was law student, read
the speech Of Sheridan at the trial of
Warren Hastings, and that masterpiece
of invective was recalled sixteen years
later, when a colonial policy began to
be suggested in the United States after
the taking of Manila, and I tried to
inform myself in regard to British rule
7 Oh
the more unjust it seemed. So many
Americans have, however, during the
last few years spoken admirably Of
England s colonial system that I have
looked forward to the visit to India
with increasing interest because of the
opportunity it would give me to study
at close range question Of vital i'm
portance to our country.
1. + +
I have met some Of the leading Eng
lish officials, as we'll as number in
subordinate positions; have talked with
educated Indians-Hindus, Moham-
medans and Parsees; have seen the peo-
pie, rich and poor, in the cities and in
the country, and have examined statis-
tics and read speeches, reports, petit
| tions and other literature that does not
find it's way to the United States; and
British rule in India is far worse, far
more burdensome to the people, and far
ing Of the word-than I had supposed.
| When I say this I do not mean to
/ bring an indictment against the Eng
lish people or to assert that they are
guilty of international wrongdoing,
Neither do I mean to question the mo-
tives Of those who are in authority.
1t has been my good fortune to become
personally acquainted with Lord Mimic,
voR present a vssr0 e With db sHsentt
of the province Of Bengal, with Lieu.
tenant Governor La Touche, chief ex.
ecutive Of the united provinces Of Agra
and Oudh. and with Governor Laming,
ton, chief executive of the Bombay
presidency, three of the largest Indian
sent the highest type Of their country
men. Lord Mimic Is fresh from
Canada, where he was governor gen
head of the Australian government be-
fore coming to India, and both Govern
ors Frazier and La Touche have Ions
official experience to their credit
That they will be just, as they under
stand justice, and do right, as they SET
right, I am satisfied. But what il
justiceq ~.
| + I"
The trouble is that England acquired
India for England's advantage, not TO-
India IS, and that she holds India TO-
England g benefit, not for India q
She administers India with an eye t.
England's interests, not India g, an,
she passes upon every question as
judge would were he permitted to de
, eide his own case. The officials II
India owe their appointment directl,
or indirectly to the home government
and the home government holds author
, ity at the sufferance of the people o
England, not Of the people Of India
The officials who go out from Englan
to serve a certain time, and then re
turn, whose interests are in England
rather. than In India, and whose sym
:. pathies are naturally with the British
/ rather than with the natives, canno
| be expected to view questions from. tn
same standpoint as the Indians
: Neither can these officials be expecte
to know the needs of the people as we
; as those who share their daily life an
| aspirations. go
It is not necessary to. review tn
earlier rule under the East India CON
, pany; that" is sufficiently condemne
by public record. The company wa
chartered for commercial purposes, an
its rule had no other than pecuniar
aim. It secured control of state afte
= state by helping one native prime
! against another where it did not .ac
: ually instigate war between princes