The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-06
Fret of Government and Raw
ings of Editors Do Not
Solve 1t.
THE NEWSPAPERS AWAKEN
NOW BEGINNING TO COMMENT ON
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN
UNITED STATES-TAFT CON-
SlDERED AN EXCELLENT MAN.

london, Dec. 5.-The race problem
in the United States always has been
viewed by Englishmen with good-na-
tured superciliousness. They didn't
take it seriously at all, putting down
the considerable agitation over it to an
American habit of exaggeration. But
now that Britain has a race problem Of
her own, she talks about it all day
and dreams of it at night.
The most pessimistic American
never predicted that the race problem
would wreck the American Republic.
The prediction is heard every day over
here that the future of the Empire is
endangered by the British race prob
lem; or rather, race problems, for there
is not one but several. There Is one
race problem in India, another in
South Africa and still third in Aus
tralfa and New Zealand. The Ind
ian problem is the worst because 1t is
just now most acute. It's .ramifications
extend to the most exclusive London
drawing rooms. East Indian students
of rank who have come to England to
complete their educations complain
that they are not shown social consid-
Grafton, are not treated as equals by
persons in England whose rank is no
higher than their own. The govern
ment recognizes this is true, but real
ICES it's helplessness. Several of the
high brow" newspapers have taken
the matter up and are urging British
gentlemen to avoid social discrimina-
ton. There is no reason to regard a
man as social inferior, they declare
merely because his skin is several de-
grees darker than yours.
But fret as the government may and
preach as may the editors. the age-old
fact of racial antagonism is there and
it is not going to be effaced by any
such thing as political consideration.
And the Indian student in England
is setting about to force social equality
In very much the same way the Amer
lean negro who demands social equal
ity has done-by showing his unworth-
mess of 1t. At a recent meeting at
which Indian students were specially
invited guests they "booed" and Kissed
the kings name, and instances have
not been lacking of late in which they
English ladies.
Australia has been lectured and
South Africa scolded because they
are not willing to admit East Indians
and other Orientals on terms Of equal
ity with the white man. And the very
great folks who are doing the lectur
ing and the scolding Lave been arous-
ing undying hatred in the breasts OF
Indian students by treating them as
social interiors. 1t is the ignorant
coolie Australia and South Africa in
sists upon barring. 1t is the best cul-
ture and refinement of India that the
London smart set has offended, many
of them capable OF tracing their ances-
try back to the days when England
was a vassal Of Rome. The govern
ing class of England is amazed that
the colonists should insist on keeping
out the riff-raff of India, but hold
back their skirts for fear Of contain
mating contact with the best India
has to offer in the way of culture and
refinement. They are very willing to
send the thin red line" to the out
posts of the empire to bear the white
mans burden, but they don't want the
burden packed home to their London
drawing rooms.
The British press showed a great
deal of interest in the recent presiden-
tial election in the United States and
gave almost as much space to 1t as
the did to the woman's suffrage move
ment, though, of course, the American
campaign could not be allowed to
crowd out the essays or letters to
the editor" After the cable told
that Mr.. Taft had been elected the
subject was allowed to drop while the
editors mulled the matter over in their
minds. Just lately they have been com
ing forth with their serious editorial
comment.
On the whole there is evident appre.
citation Of the result, but through the
leaders there runs minor note OF
surprise that the Americans showed
cellent man as their chief magis
trate. Try as they may, British editors
are not quite equal to concealing their
amazement that each presidential cleo
ton doesn't smash the American re-
public to smithereens. They see rev.
olutions following presidential cleo
lions in the little Latin republics, and
they are unable to see how the United
States escapes them.
They have just discovered a fresh
peril in the fact that President Roose.
welt took a very active interest in the
selection of his successor. It is all
right this time they agree, because
Mr.. Taft is such an excellent man
but they hope for the sake Of the
United States about whose capacity fol
self-government they are solicitous
that the precedent will not be followed
by future executives; and on this sub
ject quite number of preachment.
have been uttered in that patronizing
fatherly tone the British press habit
ually assumes when discussing Amer
lean domestic affairs.
Had the rough house methods which
English women adopted in their cam
paign for the elective franchise beer