The Washington herald., 1908-07-05

pushing a boycott against those who use
or sell British goods, or who maintain
friendly relations with English officials
and. as admitted by the able Calcutta
correspondent OF the Iondcn Times there
is no deadlier weapon that can be en-
ployed against the Hindoo than a social
boycott, which reduces its victim 10 the
status Of a parish. Means adopted to
check the movement 80 FAR have been
quite Intellectual
Can Get No Evidence.
When British officials or their Moslem
subalterns have endeavored 70 investl-
gate matters. they have found themselves
unable to obtain evidence. witnesses being
afraid or unwilling 10 come forward. In
fact, the provincial administration is IN a
measure reduced to a state Of impotency.
The conditions under which British Of
icials live and work make them the easy
prey OF the assassin. They move about
unattended. They sleep in unguarded
houses The number Of Europeans out
side presidency towns, cities. and canton
monts, is microscopic; perhaps dozen or
less scattered over a district with q pop
ulotion OF a million or more. II their na-
tive servants and staff are paralyzed by
intimidation, their own means of action is
crippled. II they themselves are wounded
or killed. the administration In the dis
trict IS for the moment at a complete
standstill. Then, too. there are thousands
Of miles of open railroad. spanning great
rivers. with unprotected bridges. at the
mercy Of the dynamiter. as well as tele-
graph wires, that invite the attention OF
any disanocted native. and as no wireless
service has as yet been established in
India the severance OF communication by
wiro OF by rai could be easily and rapidly
accomplished and but slowly redressed. !
Before help could reach outlying districts
whole countryside might be a scene Of !
panic. revolt and rapine.
Natives Lose Respect.
When Il is added that in the face OF this
evidence Of the inability Of the govern !
ment 70 punish sedition. 20 repress the
ever-growing activity OF the so-called na-
tonal volunteer movement. and 10 bring |
to justice the perpetrators OF outrages
upon English life and property, the people |
are rapidly losing their respect for order |
and authority. it will be realized that the
situation is, as I have mentioned above. |
extremely grave"
Lord Curzon in a recent after-dinner
speech in London intimated that while the |
population of India amounted 10 over
S00n00, the present movement probably |
did not extend 10 more than one-s!xth.
that Is 20 say. 10 barely 50.0OOOJO. But he
added that there was always the danger /
that 'some great wave OF racial feeling /
might be aroused which might destroy the
balance Of the reason Of the remaining /
25o0o0o 600, and sweep them into the cause 1
Of disorder" 1t is TO this racial feeling !
referred 20 in Parliament by Lord Cromer /
in terms Of such solemn warnlng-that /
the native leaders OF the national volun- 4
teer inovement-many Of them English 4
and American university graduates-are 1
appealing, it Is said. with considerable \
success.
The Oriental mind is difficult 20 fathom
OF TO follow. Lord CrOmer. Lord Curzop 4
and Sir Robert Hart; indeed. an those
great statesmen and administrators who
have won fame by long service I'm the
East are united In declaring that the
more the white man learns Of Asia. the
more convinced does he become of the
hopclessness OF his ever being able 10 \
comprehend the Oriental mind. or 10 de- /
duce from given premises what would an /
pear to Occidental reason the only logical 1
conclusion.
Waves of Feeling Sweep Land.
English people who have lived all their
lives in India give graphic descriptions
Of sudden and wholly unaccountable |
waves Of feeling sweeping over the native /
community among which they have dwelt /
for decades on terms OF mutual good will |
and friendly acquaintance; how. In a sin |
gle night nay, sometimes within the
space Of few hours. the sentiments re- !
garding them would undergo such a sud |
den change that. whereas in tho morning /
when they had passed through the crowd |
ed bazars they had felt themselves among
friends. they would. on returning at dust,
through the same thorOughfares. be i'm 4
oued with the knowledge that they were /
not only among absolute strangers. but |
among enemies. Such sudden changes as
these preceded the great Indian mutinv
OK 1857, and now they are once more he |
Ing reported from English communities
all over the peninsula.
Lord Minto and his council AT Calcutta /
have. with the approval Of Lord Morley.
the secretary Of state for India In Lon |
don. recently enacted special laws for the
punishment. but only after due trial, OF
the publishers Of sedltious literature. and
Ill those found selling or harborine ex-
plosiVes without the license and conse-
luent close supervision Of the govern
nent
Measures Excite PopuIace.
But these measures. which have excited
the utmost denunciation among the So
rialists and ultra-radical circles in Eng
and. are destined. in the opinion Of all
veteran Anglo-Indians, to prove wholly
and in spite Of Lord Morley's
-epudiauon on Wednesday last of anv
intention 70 sanction the proclamation of
martial law, q temporary suspension or
-he ordinary processes OF iurisprudenco
admitting the adoption of extraordinary
measures, is considered out In India as in
evitabie. Only by such means would # he
possible TO reach the large class of dan
serous and subtle schemes in which tho
oriental Is an expert. such as coosnir,no
o refuse payment OF taxes. the bovcot.
Ing Of Europeans and Of their servants
IS wei as Of all English wares. the IN
imidation and ostracism of native ofi-
-als OF hlSh ana low degree. the organ
zation Of strikes of railway and postaI
ervices, and last, but not least tho
reaching OF sedition. For unless the lat
er Is accompanied by specific suggestions
crime or violence, It is not under the
visiting laws Of India punishable by the
authorities.
japanese Take Advantage.
may mention here. incidentally. that
he japanese are taking such extensive
advantage Of the ever-increasIne bo,,cott