The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-04

FRON OTHER PENS
THE INDIAN EMPIRE.

THE INDIAN EMPIRE.
1t is reported that the brown men
OF British India are restless and it is
feared, seditious. This state of mind
Is supposed to be due to the victory
of the brown Jap over the white Rus
sian. and it is predicted that the
numerous Asiatic races of Hindustan
are thinking Of expelling the British
from that country. Great Britain ac-
quired foothold in India about a CEN
fury and a half ago, and, while her
rule has been attended with a thou
sand enormtties. it Is only truth to
say that the present condition of India
Is thousand times better than it
would be II the white man had never
held sway there. When England with
draws, or is expelled, from India and
the government is turned over to the
natives, India will lose more than
England and the entire world will be
injuriously affected. It is most diff
cult problem to feed India under
British rule. It would be an impos-
stbility under native rule
There are numerous able and
patriotic public men in England who
contemplate with serene and COM
placent philoso ply the loss of the In
dian empire. Indeed, there are
eminent and loyal Eng1ishmen who
would gladly concede absolute politi-
cal independence to Canada, South
Africa. Egypt, Australia and New Zea-
land, as well as to India These gem
tlemen are of the school Of John
Bright, who wished the British lion
dead. If the British government had
always acted on the teachings Of
Burke, and the American people had
always accepted the advices of Frank
lin, the British flag in North. America
would nowhere have been supplanted
by the Stars and Stripes. All North
America, except Mexico, including all
the isles of the western Ind, would
be British this good year 1908, IL the
attitude of the mother country to-
ward all the colonies had always been
what it now is toward Canada
Washington Post.
PROFITABLE DICTATORSHIP.
The call of the Portuguese premier
Franco for a gf1eneral parliamentary
election in April appears to have quiet
ed the popular turmoil which month
ago was reported SO serious as to
threaten the throne. The result of the
ballot should show how serious the OPP
position to Franco really is, how gen
orally he is considered dictator He
expects the new Cortes to support him
in his financial reforms; as to what he
will do in case hostile body is elected,
whether he will resign or again dis
miss the Cortes, anyones guess is as
have decided that Franco is not such a
reprehensible character as they were
reported to believe a month or two
ago, the reason may be found in some
figures recently made public. These
show that in six months Franco, by his
series of financial reforms, saved the
country $3.50, 900, which is no incon-
siderable amount for nation whose
total revenue last year was only $74,-
148,775. There was a deficit during the
q Iv1n n n M a
by Franco Although a large proper
ton of the Inhabitants of Portugal are
illiterate and cannot be supposed to be
well versed in financial matters, they
probably can differentiate between a
deficit and a surplus and may reason
ably be counted on not to oppose the
man who turned the one into the other.
In fact, evidence is not lacking to the
effect that those most violently hostile
to Franco are the ones he deprived of
their government NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Plain Dealer.
COMPULSORY SUFFRAGE.
Governor Fort, of New Jersey, sug-
gests compulsory suffrage. under pen
atty Of a fine for failing to exercise
the privilege. He declares that the
man who may vote but refuses to do
so should be compelled to vote or pay
fine or tax of SIS or $40, or other
specified sum. The governors sug-
gestion is only one of the many eff
forts made to solve the problem of
the stay-at-home citizen. but it is not
one founded on the wisest principles
affecting the situation. Intelligence
in voting is at least one of the pur-
| poses in view. The highest con-
sideration is, of course. that of ac-
| tive participation in the affairs of the
government, a combination of the en-
| lightened selfshness of personal in
terest and of patriotic interest in the
general welfare.
But in what way will any of these
purposes be subserved by compelling
an unwilling voter to cast his ballot
rather than pay a fine? The imposi-
| ton of a fine would accumulate fund
of sordid dollars, but it could serve
no more effective purpose. The mere
matter of numbers at an election is OF
minor Importance. The casting of
| three votes would satisfy all the re-
| quirements of our majority system of
government, but the public welfare
demands the fullest expression of the
popular will The underlying theory
of all suffrage is that it is a gift and
| a responsibility in one, privilege and
a duty. Millions of men have been
slain to secure this right and 1t Is only
demeanfng the legacy of suffrage by
linking it in any suggestion with a
fine or tax. A better way would be to
take it away from those who fail to
Ta1