New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
INDIAN AGITATION.
"reminiscences Of the Great Mutiny
and Skepticism Orer It's Recurrence.
London. May il.

the last century 1t was a supreme crisis,
| ing as unexpectedly as a whirlwind of sand in
an Eastern desert and shaking the foundations
Of the British Empire. and it was faced with in
flexible intTepidity and resourceful energy by
| Lord Canning, the Lawrences, Sir Henry Have
lock Sir Colin Campbell and all the other adj
illustrators and generals. The events of that
glorious chapter of English history were burned
into mems memories Fifty years have passed,
y and with the recurrence of unrest and sedition
in India the exciting story of that period OF
Storm and stress is vividly remembered. Not
only veterans from the Punjaub and Bengal but
also cubmen of all ages. have the facts of the
Great MuJiny al their fingers ends, and recite
.hern as clearly a. though the crisis had
CURED a twelvemonth ago. Any day this week
messenger from Mars might have heard in
London clubs groups discussing the chief events
of that momentous struggle: the outbreak at
Neerut. the disarming of the Meean Nicer and
No0ltan insurgents at the lannon's mouth, the
swift advance on Delhi, the massacre at Gavin
pore. the relief of Lucknow and all the other
thrilling Incidents The wars In Crimea, At
chanfstan the Soudan and South Africa may
have been half-forgotten but Englishmen
member the Mutiny as distinctly as Americans
over fifty recall their own civil conflict when
every one north south was in a white heat
of suspense and excitement.
than the analogies and contrasts drawn by
experienced servants cf the Crown in India
between the Great Mutiny and existing con-
dftions of sedtious agitation. L have been
listening 10 the comments of those who have
spent arduous years in that vast hive OF swarm
ing population, and shall try 10 make a sum-
mary Of what is said by them. Many analogies
| are pointed out. One is the mystery enveloping
racial movements and native disahection. In
1857 there were many causes assigned for the
revoIts, and at present there is different rea-
son for every indication Of discomfort and I'M
rest; and It is as difficult to-day to understand
what Is going under the surface in India
as it was then TO comprehend the sudden out
break Of hostility 10 British rule Another
parallel is drawn between Lord Canning's sue
cession after the creative period of Lord Dali
housie's reforms and lamentations and Lord
Minto's administration under Mr.. Morley's
pervison after Lord Curzon's well ordered and
progressive rule Another basis of comparison
IS the revival of Oriental confidence in the
ability Of the Asiatics to make a stand against
Europeans. After the Afghan and Crimean
wars there was a decline Of British prestige
and the Sepoys were no longer inundated by
the presence Of European garrisons: and the
protracted campaigns in South Africa and the
victories Of the japanese on land and sea have
been followed by awakening OF all Asiatic
races 10 the truth that Western nations are
not invincible and that their capacity for send
ing achievements to the ends of the earth
is speedily exhausted If the glamour of Euro
pean conquest and organization has waned the
adherence Of foreign dominion has increased
among Orentals. It was this feeling Of dislike
and distrust that converted the movement of
lA54 into something far formidable than
military revolt: and it can hardly be doubted
ihat the same racial antipathy has been aroused
once more in Northern India.
The points Of contrast are even more striking |
than the analoges Religious fanaticism has
declined in the course of fifty years and Asiatic
Mussulman and Hindoo are not prepared TO find
common cause against the European Christian
There are no military grievances to impair the
loyalty of the native regiments as there were
when the outbreak at Meerut was the signal for
widespread instruction There is increased
restlessness among the educated natives Of every
race and creed, and everybody who has an in
innate acquaintance with Indian affairs con-
sders this the most significant feature Of the
situation and without parallel in 1857. Educa-
ton instead Of reconcling natives to British rule
exctes antpathy TO it. The pretexts for rioting
sedtious agitation and popular discomfort are
details Of everyday routine IN the administra-
ton, such as excessive taxation OF land. press
trials before magistrates. arrests OF bazaar
Gemagogues restrictions upon freedom of speech
and exclusion Of educated natives from the most
remunerative and responsible posts in the pub
lie service. The commonest motive for such
disturbances as have occurred is discomfort with
system of foreign domination under which
native administration and genuine home rule are
lmpracticable Not only the universities
and institutions Of learning hotbeds of disafec-
uon' but the native schools the teaching bodies.
,,l,ns-,.
also recruiting agencies for disloyalty and sedi-
ton Some partisan critics are disposed TO hold
Lord Ripon responsible for much of the restless
ness and turbulence, since it was under his ad-
ministration Viceroy that reforms in the
direction Of home rule were attempted; but the |
more reasonable view is that education and
progress under humane ands enlightened gov |
ernment have tended to excite racial jealousy
and Irritation The educated class as it's own |
Intellectual powers developed aspires to rule
the country, and IS repealed and enraged by the
assumption Of superiority by the governing class
Of foreigners.
This feeling Of racial antipathy, which has
found Passionate expression in the riotous pro- |
ceedings at Rawal Pindi, Lahore and Umritsur
is not shared by the native army nor are the
princes in sympathy with It. The native troops
have the same contemptuous dislike for the agi-
iators writers and orators that the rank and
Me Of the German army have for the socialist
organizers and politicians They consider them
"fa"lers and disturbers Of the peace and accept |
Tor themselves the responsibility of the main |
tehance Of public order. In 1857 the discipline
:" me Indian army was impaired by the intro |
auction OF new rifle with objectionable car
"luses and 10y mischievous determinations /
against races and sects, and both 1indooe and !
-"ussuiihahs were convinced that there was an I