The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-07-20

Everywhere in the far east IL to
be found at work the leaven Of new
spirit Of progress and independence.
Japan has done things, and the neigh
boring countries all through Asia are
sitting up and taking notice. China
is awakening, or rather awakened,
and is rapidly undermining her life,
industrially, commercially and intel
IectualIy, as well as remodeling her
army and navy along the most up-to-
date lines, and the other adjacent
countries are feeling the influence of
such movement, in fact, SO general is
this new spirit manifesting itself that
1t is being referred to as PAM Oriental
ism.
1t has cropped out in India, the
country over which Great Britain has
ruled so long, with such pride, and
shall we say. so well, for there is no
question but that in many respects
British administration in India has
been enlightened and beneficial. But
in spite of this and perhaps as a re-
suit of the enlightenment and the ed
ucational work which Britain has
wrought India is beginning to feel q
spirit of unrest She has wrought
under the hand of master: now she
wants to have the chance to show
what she can do for herself.
1t would be impossible to convince
any Britisher in or out of India that
the chief aim and effect OF British rule
have not been and are not now for
the advantage of the natives; and 1t
is not easy to refute the long estab-
Nshed presumption, even If one were
disposed to undertake the task, which
l am not. In its more obvious mani
festations the government is excellent,
its general administration being un-
usually efficient and free from petty
official corruptions. All this is COM
mon knowledge. Since she abandoned
the attitude of conQueror for that of
pacificator. England's treatment of
the natives of all classes has been
generally beneficent and humane:
Let US take conditions as they are.
and the natives are dissatisfied with
the conditions. Most dissatisfied of all,
as o rule, is the educated native. He
may hold q good job. as jobs go in In
dia. may be a judge or sub-governor,
but he knows that always above him
Is man not native of the country
tat least In a racial sense) In whom
the real and final authority is vested.
India is progressing. but Indians are
not at the helm.
While many Indians have developed
a capacity in modern erudition not
excelled anywhere, there has grown
up q large class Of half-educated per-
sons, usually called babus. These
babus I'LL the minor government posi-
tons, are the clerks. statesmen, book.
keepers, telegraphers, stenographers,
and SO forth Of commerce and indus
try. Many babus are of mixed blood,
through alliances between foreigners
and natives, thus acquiring some Of
the prestige of the white race while
retaining close touch with the oriental. |
The babus are the visible cause of
the present agitation, and it is through
them that the virus has extended to
the people The exact origin OF this
particular wave or unrest Is hard to
trace. How long 1t has surreptitious-
y percolated and smoldered under the
crust which separates the ruling class
from the mass cannot be definitely es-
Eablished. Indeed, when has it ever
ceased ito smolder? But it began to
attract attention something over a
year ago. when an agitation was begun
through the native press for the gen.
eral Improvement of the natives. and
he extension of their opportunities. |
The movement appeared entirely to |
ack, in the beginning, concerted effort |
and object, but was. directed at what
ever trivial or important condition or |
act Of the government presented tar.
get for the moment.
The serious attention of the gov
eminent and Anglo-Indian press was |
irst attracted by what is known a. !
he "Swadishi" movement. This was |
IN attempt by the Hindus to boycott |
British goods. At first, like the boy
;ott Of American goods in China, the |
matter was treated rather as joke; |
but as time passed 1t continued and |
began to spread to other parts Of the
country. 1t is not pertinent here to |
discuss the commercial effect OF this
boycott, which Is still undetermined,
or this speedily became overshadow-
ID BY political phases.
An educated Hindu of Calcutta had |
his to say regarding the native com
,laint:
"oid Indiaf dead or r.uidly dyins. {