The Washington herald., 1907-11-03

hailed with relief Naturally every Eng
lishman feels that tremendous TespOn-
sibnity rests upon Earl Mimic. who sue
ceeded Curzon in India, and upon Lord
Eldon Gorst, who now has Cromers place
in Egypt
Gorst is a man of ability, OF course, or
he never would have been chosen for the
post but he is still untried. In measure,
and there are many in England who have
feared that he might not be equal to its
requirements, especially as he is the ap-
pointee of a Liberal government 1t was
under Gladstone. at the head of a Liberal
government that the campaign for the
rescue Of Gordon in the Soudan was car
ried on for a time, but finally abandoned.
This resulted in Gordon's death and an
immense loss of prestige for the British
in Africa.
There was a feeling In England, espe-
cially among the Conservatives, that John
Morley, Liberal secretary for India.
might display some lack of strength in
handling the situation. but his irmness
In dealing with the dissatisfied has won
the approval OF the most critical, and it is
now known that he is prepared to go as
far as any Conservative minister could to
Sir Eldon Gorst has lived up to his job in
Egypt.
OVereducatiOn Is Blamed.
There is no doubt that Great Britain
had in mind the possibility of the Hlndus
being made restive by the growing power
of Japan when the Anglo-Japanese treaty
was entered into, and no doubt the move
was a shrewd and far-seeing one. The
difficulty between japan and the United
States over the schools in San Francisco
and the proposed EXCLUSION Of japanese
labor lent new complications to the situa-
ton. however. and these were by no
means decreased when the working men
Of Vancouver began to object TO the i'm
portation, first OF Hindus, and later Of
Japanese into British Columbia.
There are plenty OF well-informed stu
dents Of the situation who hold that one
of the real, basic causes of the present
disaffection among the colored peoples IS
overeducation. II the japanese had not
been forced 10 accept Western civilization
by the United States. Japan could never
have tnrashed Russia. If the English had
not educated thousands of Hindus and so
inStilled into their minds a desire for lib
erty, they would not be clamOring now
for that elusive and sometimes disap-
pointing boon.
Bad as conditions are in India In some
respects under the British. they are better
than they were under the native princes.
Ii is not the descendants Of the old-time
ruleTs-they are satisfied with conditions
as they are, for they have all the fun and
all the wealth of the pTincely estate with
out the responsibilities Of ruling the peO-
ple-it is the educated or half-educated
middle class Hindus, who have read OF
constitutional liberty and its inestimable
blessings. that are stirring up the mis-
chief
Whether the masses Of the people in
India would stand by the agitators in
case the latter should call for an actual
insurrection no one knows; If they and
the native troops were 10 do so, the situa-
ton would be rather difficult. since there
are less than zVJ.0J0 British in all India,
including both the military and the civil
servants.
Should there be such an inconceivable
thing as revolution and the British be
driven out. the situation in India would
be unimaginably horrible. for the people
are not yet capable Of self-government.
The different races and sects would be a
long time crystallizing into anything Ike
organization and there would be no end
of bloodsbed before this could be brought
about, Possibly in the end the Moham-
medfns, despite their greater Intellectual
stoiiiity, and because of their greater
capacity as fighters. would come 20 the
front as the rulers Of India
MosIems Not Educated.
It is not overeducation that has caused
the Mohammedan dissatisfaction in Egypt
and elsewhere in Africa. There has been
practically no intellectual advance among
the mass of the Prophets followers; In
fact the proportion of Intellectual Mus
selmans is smaller than it was 200 years
ago and very much Iess than in the days
when the Moors ruled Spain.
Only among a few progressive young
Turks and perhaps in Persia. where
the late Shah was obliged to grant a
and where the present
Shah's government is apparently in seri-
Gus difficulties, has there been a real
forward movement The progressive
Turks and Persians are thoroughly dis
satisfied with AIohammedanism and its
effects, since the Koran. its holy book, is
not only the religious guide, but also vir-
tually the common law of the land. and
under Its sway progress to the general
European level is impossible
Their activities form a factor Of the
that may be turned to good ac-
count by the dominant nations if they are
skiliful enough 20 do it, Young Tur-
key and the progressive elements among
the Persians combined from A very small
of the Moslem world, however.
and although increasing constantly, their
relative Importance is decreasing year
by year.
This anomaly is due to the unprece-
denied extension Of MoslemisT1 in rbe
earth's dark places, which is now going
on. Among the NOmads Of Western
Asia and throughout most Of Africa.
where Christianity was once practically
supreme. the faith of Islam has swept
everything before it. 1t has made great
strides in Eastern Asia also. having got
a big foothold In China even, and every
year it spreads still further among the
Islands Of the sea.
Japan, however, is practically free of
as vet. and apparently
more inclined 10 work in harmony with
the white Christian nations than with
any cOlOred nation or combination. What
might be the result all through the Ori-
ent were the japanese TO become anger
ed seriously with the whites and cast
their influence against general white su-
premacy is something the European colo
nial offices will not discuss.
Good Faith for Barbarians.
1t is the rapid extension Of IsIamism
among savagas and barbarians that rem
ders the present situation somewhat seri-
Gus. For Mohammed's faith teaches in
tense hatred Of all other religions; that
eternal happiness may be gained by the
Staying Of unbelievers, and that it is the
duty Of all Moslems TO spread the SWAY
Of the Prophet by the sword. True be-
levers who die fighting for Islam without
pay are promised the joys of Daradfsa