Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-24
ADVOCACY OF. VIOLENCE
Energetic Action by the Government
Necessary.
THE DISLOYAL EMBOLDENED
Details of Riots in Eastern Bengal.
Anti-British Movement Deplcred.

Antt-British Movement Deplcred.
Special Cahlegram to The Star.
CALCUTTA, June 2f-Unsatisfactory as
the situation may be In some of its fea-
lures those who are studying 1t on the
spot appear to consider that the exercise
of frmness and decision is all that is nee
essary to bring the agitator and his dupes
TO a sense of conditions they exist. 1t
is difficult amid walter of native asser-
tons and rumors to get at the actual facts
of many of the recent outbreaks, but there
is doubt that the latitude allowed to
native orators and the lower-class native
press has had lamentable results in firing
the ignorant masses with the idea that the
hand of the ruler was weakened. This led
to the free advocacy of violence against up
holders of the present regime, with the
results that whites and Mohammedans alike
suffered The latter in their turn have
not stopped at political consideration and
political confederation for self-protection,
but have bettered the lesson taught them
and turned to the lathi with relish whet-
ted by the revival of the old racial an
tpathies that long seemed mOribund.
How far that seeming was actual few
Europeans could say. TO the reality of the
revival ample testimony is given ny tHe
drafting of police hither and thither. by
the boarding of trains by scores of cudgel-
bearing Mohammedans or Hindus, hurry
ing to the aid of their friends at the scene
of some apprehended conflict or another,
and by the wild reports that this town or
that is to be sacked by mob of one of
the clashing factions. The different parties.
loyal and disaffected alike, have fallen un-
der one deiusion that the government was
afraid to put down lawlessness. The dis
loyal have been embodened to use vio-
lence undreamed of for generatin, and
the well disposed. distrusting the power or
will of the British raj TO protect them,
have taken the power into their own hands.
Matters reached climax in the Rawal
Pindi riot. and the prompt action of the
government in arres'ing and deportng Lala
Ratpat Raj the archa gitor of the Punjab.
has done a great deal to kill the spirit Of
lawlessness.
Limit of federation Reached.
This step has been followed by another,
which II less dramatic no less clearly pro-
claims that the limit of liberation has been
reached and that the government means to
discharge its duty. circular has been is
sued to the educational authorities of the
empire regulating and in certain cases pro-
hibiting the participation of pupils, students
and teachers in political agitations. 1t is
laid down general rule that politics
must not interfere with educational efficien-
cy. Boys in high schools. 1t Is asserted,
should keep absolutely aloof from political
warfare. Disregard of this injunction may
be punished In various ways.
The local government may deprive the
offending school of grant-n-aid. and the
pupils the opportunity of competing for
scholarships, and, further. the universities
may exclude the pupils from their matricu-
lation examinations. Students at college
are allowed more latitude. They may at
tend political meetings, but If they 80 con-
duct themselves as TO bring undesirable
notoriety upon their colleges, or engage
in political agitation in such way as to in
terfere with the corporate life and the edu-
cational work of the place. and still more, if
such propagandism assume the form of
pcketing and open violence. it is obvious
that the local government concerned could
no longer remain passive. but would be
bound in the interests of education to take
steps to procure the withdrawal from the
college. at any rate for a period, of the
privilege of affilation to the university"
Warning to Teachers.
AS to teachers, the circular observes: al
though it is the firm intention of the gov
ernor general in council to neglect no
means OF preventing schools and colleges
from being turned into Centers of political
agitation, he does not wish unduiy to cir
cumscribe the liberty of individual teachers.
A schoolmaSter has a right to his own
opinions much any else. but he
is subject 10 very special responsibilities,
and IL Is recognized in every civilized coun-
try that these responsiveness limit the eX
tent to which he is entitled to give express
sion to his individual views. If therefore,
the public utterances of schoolmaster are
OF such character as to endanger the
orderly development of the boys under his
charge by introducing into their immature
minds doctrines subversive of their respect
for authority and calculated to impair their
usefulness as citizens and to hinder their
advancement in after life his proceedings
must be held to constitute a derelctiOn of
duty and may properly be visited with dis
Ciplinary action
While the government appears to be do
ing all that II can toward restoration of
saner public spirit II is regarded as salts
factory to note that leading men and
bodies, both Hindu and Mohammedan are
increasing their efforts in the same direc-
ton. AT Amritsar the Anjuman-i-Islamia
has passed resolution denouncing the dis
orders at Rawal Pindar and Lahore. At
Dacca the Moslem conference has ap-
pointed six delegates to propose to the
Hindu leaders the establishment of per-
manent joint committee for the settlement
of differences and the promotion of a bet
ter mutual understanding.
Friendly Efforts Of Natives.
Well-known Hndus have written to sew
eral OF the vernacular newspapers pointing
out the suicidal nature of an ant.-British
agitation. the success of which would mean
the disappearance OF the one power which
insures peace and justice to all the races
OF India. \ number of Calcutta gentle
men have combined TO try and quiet the
excited communities in eastern Bengal.
Two Mohammcddns and two Hndus met
In the Eakiis library at the high court and
decided to organize a large meeting. In
pursuance of this decision there was q
combined asscmblage of many leading men
of both communities in the rooms OF the
British Indian Association committee
was appointed to devise means of restor-
ing peace in eastern Bengal 1t was sug-
gested that several prominent Hindus and
Mohammedans should go to Dacca My
mensngh and other centers in the dis
turbed area and enter into conference
with the leaders there
That energetic action was necessary is
amply shown. not only by the various
riots but by the extreme violence of the
language INDUCED In by the agitators. In
Beadon Square, for instance. a public meet
ing held not long ago at which one
orator suggested that every father who had
sons should set apart one who should be-
come volunteer. This suggestion was
dilated on by other speakers.
These volunteers, II was recommended
should be trained TO At them for their duty