New-York tribune., 1909-07-03
THE LATEST INDIAN OUTRAGE.


The assassination of Sir William Wyilie and
DR.. Lalcaca is a startling reminder 10 the Brit
ish people and, for that matter, to the whole
world of the extent and bitterness OF the Sc
dition which has been cultivated IN India for
the last few years. There have been numerous
outraCes in India itself on life and property. on
not only men, but also women and children. But
Bengal is very far away. A double murder in
the heart Of London Is different matter. 1t
will be recalled that the late Mr.. Gladstone at
one time failed TO lay down his Homer and
undertake the suppression of crime in Ireland
until there had been dynamite outrage in
London itself. Perhaps this assassination at a
crowded reception at the Imperial Institute in
the West End Of London viii have the effect Of
arousing the United Kingdom to the gravity Of
the situation In Hindustan. and particularly in
Bengal. 1t should also attract attention TO the
character and habits Of some of the Indian stu
dents in Great Britain and other lands. Per
hapS most of these are really students, seeking
TO improve their minds and to increase their
efficiency in commerce. industry the arts. But
there has all along been reason for suspecting
that some of them were nothing but agitators
and potential assasSns in disguise.
There is probably little danger Of 4 repetition
of the AIutiny of half a century ago, especially
since most of real light and leading in
India condemn the agitation and its excesses
as severely as do the British themselves and use
ali their influence for loyalty TO the Crown, but
there is undoubtedly a considerable tendency
toward sporadic crime of a political character
or under political pretence which, most regret
tably has been f0stered to some extent by the
injudlcious if not the malicious indictments Of
British and American agitatOrs either in these
countries or in India itself 1t will be recalled
that recently a Socialist member of the British
Parliament made tour of India and openly
preached sedition; and there were those who
then predicted that his perncious activity
would be followed by an increase of crime To
a still greater extent Indians who visit Eng
land or America for whatever purpose are fire.
quentlt confronted with direct indictments to
sedition. if not 10 murder. Only the other day
another Socialist member of Parliament, speak
ing in the House of Commons, expressed the
wish that somebody would assassnate the EN-
peror Of Russia during bis coming visit to Eng
land and denunciations Of British rule in
India as criminal and deserving Of violent
resistance and~Eeprisals have been numerous in
both England and America. 1t may be that
some such utteranceS inspired the tragedy of
Thursday night
There is a striking resemblance between these
murders and those in Phoenix Park in the fact
that they come just at the time when benef-
cence is being signally manifested toward
India Grievances are being abated and self
government is being granted 10 the Indians TO
an extent which down to a year ago had not
been dreamed of. Lord Morley has made his
administration Of the India Office memorable
for great reforms and progress and for in
trusting control Of imperial affairs to Indians
to an unprecedented degree. It is apparently
IS a malignant response to his generous policy
that this abhorrent tragedy has been commit
ted its chief victim being officer intimately
associated with Lord Morley in his Indian
work. As a manifestation of irreconcilable hos
tillty among Il faction Of the Bengalese ii win
he deeply deplored and 1t will probably cause
the government 10 act more firmly and viGor-
ously in repressing sedition. We must hope,
also that it will cause well meaning agitators
for the advancement Of India" here and else
where 10 be more prudent in their utterances
than some of them have been. 1t is. of course.
commendabe 10 work for the true advancement
of India as of any other country in the world;
but 10 prompt the neoDla OF India to conspiracy