The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-02-26
A LETTER
TO TEDDY

A open letter has e addressed to
President Roosevelt in protest against
his recent laudatory characterization
of British rule in India at the Metro
politan Memorial Methodist Episcopal
Church in Washington. The protest
has seventeen signers, members OF
the society for the Advancement of In
dia and others.
Worst Than Russian Despotism.
In REPUTATION of h Presidents as
sertion that British rule in India is
a colossal success" the letter de-
clares that, on the contrary, it is a des
potism worse than that OF Russia, as
far as possible removed from the
ideal of h government at the head OF
which he stands and which he is sup
posed to believe in and represent.
The people of India have no voice
whatever in the management of their
own affairs. The small number of In
dams on government councils are,
with rare exceptions, appointed by
the government. Their functions are
merely advisory. They have no power
in the management of Indian affairs"
Mot a tax can be changed, not a ru-
pee of the peoples own money appro-
priated for any purpose, however ur-
gent, without the consent of British
officials. Even the new reforms pro-
posed by Lord Morley will effect no es
sential change. Lord Morley himself
declares: If it could be said that this
chapte of reforms led directly or
necessarily up to a parliamentary sys-
tenn for India, 1, for one, would have
nothing to do with It,"
Imprisonment Without Trial.
Not only" it is alleged, "are the
Indian people allowed no part in snap
ing the destiny of their own country,
lint auon Freedom nf SnPpnh and of as
sembly are permitted only under the
~severest limitations and the most gal
ling espionage, and freedom of the
press has been away. Today
fully one hundred editors are serving
terms of from 8 to ten years in pri-
son, many of hen without trial, with
out having had opportunity to defend
themselves, in not a few cases with
out even having been informed of the
nature of their offense. The crime al
most invariably charged is 'sedition.
In India the mere discussion of re-
forms is punished by open or secret
Imprisonment. There is no Indian
home that is not liable at any hour
of the day II night to be forcibly en-
tered and searched at the i~nstigation
OF spying police. There is no Indian
gentleman, however high his standing
or u~nimpeachable his character, who
may not at any moment be arrested
and hurried away to an pr1s-
on. Nine such arrests and incarcera-
lions took place recently in a single
week. Even disting uished English
men visiting India have their mail
tempered with and are Swallowed by
the police If they are so much as sus-
pected of any sympathy with the In
dian people.
Despotic Censorship Of Press.
"All telegraphic and other news
from India is closely censored" 1t IS
said, "in the English interest" What
is learned by the world is for the most
part only the English view. But one
in Mr.. Roosevelt's position, the pro-
test insists, should have adequately in
formed himself before undertaking to
speak on a subject affecting he inter-
ests Of some three hundred millions
of people. Adequate information is
available. The English Labor Party
Is taking up the wrongs of India, de-
termined that they shall not longer
be ignored. Distinguished and able
Englishmen many Of them members
of parliament who have also had long
service in India, are. in increasing
numbers, ~espousing the cause of In
dia, resolved that the truth shall be
known. Sir Henry Cotton. NJ. P, IS
quoted: Indian administration as
carried on today is a system of pure
Absolutism from the Viceroy down
wards, as autocratic as that of the
Car of Russia The idea hat the
the government Of their own country
he pronounces absolutely illusory."
Self-Government Practicable.
The letter insists that to assert, as
the President did, that India is capa-