The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-07
The Protest OF an American Missionary.

~ ~ W - 49, -
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir, In looking
over my morning paper, the India Daily NeUs
Of August I. I see quotations from a letter
Of William Jennin q Bryan concerning the op'
preesive rule Of the Indian Government.
Will you permit me a few words In replyf
First, I wish to say that ] came TO India in
1888 from New York state as a Christia n
missionary and that | am still serving in that
capacity. Secondly, that I came here thor
ouRbly preiudiced against British rule in
India and began my work In that frame OF
mind, and often freely expressed my opinion
TO educated native gentlemen whose aoQua int
ance | formed during my first year in India.
These men were willing listeners. I have
been In different parts Of India and think J
know something Of the country and Its people.
] do not pretend to say that the Indian Gov
eminent Ia ideal. There are some thin gs
I would correct II I could. and / think the
Government itself wishes to do the best thing
for the people so fast as il sees the way.
With reference to taxation, there il one
thing which must have escaped the notice Of
MIR. Bryan. II Is that incomes are taxed.
II a man has an income Of t35 per month he
Ia taxed a certain sum. and the larger his
income the greater ia his tax. As the great
mass of the people have n salary less thar the
amount fixed the burden of taxation rests on
the rich. salt, a necessity for all. is taxed
slightly.
now, no one WOUlu DTetenu 10 say mat the
Fast India Company, which was the opening
wedge for England's entrance into India,
was a benevolent enterprise. The company
students of history know how this company
by growth and other natural processes was
merged intG the b, Indian nTnI GoveTTRRmsnt, 1t
who believe In a divine everything. Provi-
depce sec the hand Of God in this history.
she is here TO rule and here to stay. The
question which Mr. Bryan raises Is not a new
one. Even some English stat esmen, nfirm
OF England sons. ! do not agree with these
men, nor with Mr.. Bryan. or course. a man
| by merely passing through It and seeing but
a very small part Of Il. but it takes what we
Americans call a good deal OF cheek to ex-
deep and far reaching subject as British
administration in India with such Q super
India is left TO one OF four alternatives: To be
governed by ENGLAND, or by some other for
eiGn Power; TO govern herself as 2 whole
mail selr-goyerning provinces. II India
were governed by some other foreign Power
would she be better governedg Gould she
form a federal Royernme nt like the United
States2 One almost smiles at the thought of
how she would proceed. Could India be di-
own government7 she tried this for a thou
sand years IN different ways and was so cor
rgpt With deceit treschsry; bribery and
possessi IN and in fact made British possess
sion desirable.
When Lord William Cavendish BentInck
was about to have enacted the law for
bidding the burning Of widows. the educated
wealthy class opposed the measure. I was in
Calcutta about the time OF the passage Of the
Bengal tenancy act. This act let me briefly ex-
plain: The land Of India is held for the most
part by zemindars. These are large landhOld-
ers. They may have a thousand or ten thou
sand acres Of land each. This land Ia let to ten
ants; and a man may have any number OF
collected the regular rents. but many thinOa
were made an excuse FOR collecting sItrs
rents. and in this way the Door tenant was
ground into. the very dust. The law stepped
Were the educated. English speaking semin-
dars pleasedi On. the contrary. they most
bitterly denounced the act; II, was a most
make his tenants pay the cost Of a wedding
or q pilgrimage or a funeral or the building
Of a temple. But the act went into force Just
One more incident. Possibly fifteen year.
ago the Government proposed TO raise the
age at which a girl could lawfully be married
age from six TO ten. These children were
married, mind you, to mature men. some
times 20 years old and sometimes a.. On
the eve or the passage OF the bill was
in Calcutta, and such great public demon
STATIONS OF pTOtestatiOn | never saw in any
country The7e mass meetings were adj
II India IL to go vern berselr IL will be the
educated and wealthy lass who will CoyFrn
In view Of the facts Just stated. should VIZ eX-
meet. that they would govern the country
in the interests or enlightenn ent. hustle
progress or morality
Let the people Of Indis have a govern
and the wheels Of inInst rT would stnn noM
merce would he blighted and general edIca-
mon w ..nn , SeSIs' Srnp|rT; SorTnptlsn and
How do I know Because / know, the char
chLcrTrA.Aug s.