The Washington herald., 1908-05-24

Calcutta, India, May 23.-The discovery
Of bomb factories in Calcutta is probably
causing a great deal more anxiety 10 the
government OF India than the rising on
the frontier Refractory tribesmen can be
hammered into obedience, but IL the NAL
contents in Bengal propose to adopt a
policy OF isolated assassinations, Il viii
be extremely difficult 10 deal with them.
The revelations concerning the wide
spread conspiracy have come as no sur
prise 70 those who have closely followed
native political movements. It's opera
tons are not even confined TO India.
The existence OF a center in Paris where
young Hindus hatch plots against British
rule in India has long been known to the
authorities. There is more than one such
center in London also. and an Indian
newspaper is printed every week in this
country. which for virulent attacks upon
Great Britain is hardly equaied by any
journal in Bengal.
This newspaper. the Indian SOciologist.
is sent out 70 India In considerable guam
titles. and is widely quoted by the native
journals. II is printed in English. but
receives much attention from vernacular
journals
Plotting Is General,
II would be a mistake 10 suppose that
indictments TO violence and subtle conspir-
acies TO undermine British rule are limit
ed TO Bengal. The Bengalis are the nosiest
of agitators, but are not regarded as the
most dangerous. The fact that they have
been daring enough TO manufacture
bombs is. indeed. rather a surprise 1t is
to the Punjab and to Bombay that the
government is more accustomed TO look
for enemies of the administration who
are prepared to translate their words into
deeds.
The Bombay presidency is the real dan
ger spot in India. despite its surface
quietude. It is the home OF the Mahrattas.
the last race which actually held great
power The Mahratta Brahmins are no
torious. even among Brahmins, for their
capacity for guile and hatred. The city
OF Poona, where they chiefly reside. Is
known TO be the source Of much Of the
mischievo0s propaganda now circulating
in India
The Bengal agitators received their first
impetus toward violent measures from
Poona. The Poona Brahmins do not fg-
ure prominently in the agitation. with the
solitary exception Of the redoubtable Bal
Gangdadhar Tilak. who broke up the con-
gress al Surat but they pull many Of the
strings. The Mahrattas. as a race. are
still full Of virility. The blood OF war
riors flows in their veins.
Nothing reveals more vividly the wide
al .0Ho e-r ~ ha eF ba
recent disturbances at Tuticorin, the
southernmost point Of India That the
Madras presidency would give trouble
was never even suspected. II was con-
sidered a sort Of backwater whose placid
surface was never Tuffled. Now the Mad
rasi is ready TO riot with the best on very
small provOcatiOn.
Unres: Is Widespread.
The truth is that unrest has become so
general in India that II has more or less
permeated all districts and all classes ex-
cept Rajputana and the Rajputs.
The fact that the conspirators in Cal
cutta were able 20 collect such large
quantities OF high explosives has occa-
stoned much comment. 1t is not really
difficult however. to smuggle either arms
or explosives into the country. Such
vast extent Of coast line cannot be easily
protected. and the probability is that
modern arms are far more numerous in
India than is popularly supposed
Many young Indians are known to have
gone abroad in the last year or two TO
study the manufacture Of arms. Most Of
them went 20 Japan. Little more than
year ago an extraordinary organization
for sending young Indians to Japan 10
learn the use OF arms and the way TO
make them was discovered and dispersed
The young men. sometimes of good fam
ily, were induced 10 commit dacoities, and
the organization turned the proceeds Of
their thefts into cash When a youth had
stolen enough for his maintenance he was
sent 10 Japan.
The secret service OF the Indian govern
ment is extremely efficient. as Mr. Kipling
showed IN Kim and IL was through the
exertions OF its agents that this nefarious
organization was broken up.