The Washington herald., 1907-05-05
A Grim Golden Jubilee
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Great Mutiny Finds
India on the Verge of Another Rebellion

of Indians have been initiated through
English language and literature into q
new world OF thought The main result
of this mas been to breed In them a spirit
of revolt against the political ascendency
Of the race TO whose superiority in the
realms Of knowledge they no longer yield
homage IN a word, Western education
and knowledge have had the effect OF inn
pairing that prestige by which alone the
British have been able to maintain their
control over those 900 of natives
who at heart all resent the domination
of the white man. This prestige has been
now entirely destroyed by the manner in
which the japanese, that Is TO say,
relatively small Asiatic nation, has de-
stroyed the military power of the vast
Russian empire, and has compelled the
Western nations TO reluctantly recognize
her as one of the great powers. Asiatio
belief in the superiority, military, and in
tellectual of the white man, has ceased
to exist since the peace of Portsmouth,
and the conviction that the Aslatic Is not
merely the equal but even the superior,
Of his European and American brother, Is
being continually impressed upon the
minds of the Indian people by the native
press, which is bitterly hostile 10 Eng
land. and by those unofficial japanese
emissaries who are travelling all over the
Deccan fostering the spirit of revolt.
The question viii naturally arise, first.
as TO how all this can be reconciled with
the professions of loyalty on the part
Of the native princes Of India: end,
secondly. what the reason can be of this
bitter animosity. since. after all, INDIA
is much more prosperous under the Eng
7 IA. 81.
scene of devastating wars among rival
emperors, kings, and rajahs. In the first
place. Asiatics. no matter what their
creed, do nOt consider themselves bound
to keep faith with a white man Indeed,
the only promises kept are those verbal
ones made by the Chinese merchants. who
are prompted in the matter by the knOwl-
edge that the keeping of their verbal
engagements adds TO their financial and
mercantile credit 10 such a degree as 10
constitute a valuable asset. Thus. the
Gaekwar of Baroda. who was here in
America last year with his consort, poses
as devoted to the English in London,
where he has been treated by court, gov
erument. and society with the highest
distinction and the greatest hospitality.
Yet at heart he detests the English and
is as bitterly aveTse to their suZerainty
of their kingdom as his fellOW-sovereign
HOlkar, King OF IndOre, and as most of
/ the other vassal princes of India. In
l this connection / need only recall the fact
/ thar Mana Sahib, the chief leader ami
/ organizer of the great rebellion OF 1884,
was the one Indian prince of all others
whom the English believed to be most
/ reCOnciled to their rule and to be most
/ loyal in his devotion to his English
! friends. In this belief he had been enter
I tanned with the utmost hospitality in
/ England. and had been overwhelmed with
/ honors at court. and 80 complete Was the
/ confidence OF the English I'm his fidelity
/ that. after the mutiEy broke out. all
/ those at Cawnpore placed their wives.
] their sisters, and their children under his
/ protection Yet the appalling fate Of all
/ these women and children az the hands
/ of Mana Sahib is cOmmemorated 10 this
! day by a beautiful monument at Gavin
! pore. on the site OF one of the ghastliest
! tragedies Of the insurreetion half a cen
/ tuTy ago.