The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10. 1909.
India and Democracy.

lnoia and Democracy.
To the student Of politics. no events OF
recent years afford him more interest and
grounds for speculation than do the Do
itical unrest and. in some instances. the
definite political movements Of Aslatlc
peoples-au signifying a demand OF the
masses for share. in some form, IN the
governing body.
Within the span OF i've years, the
remaining autocracies OF the world
except, perhaps. China-those at least
occupying distinct places in the fam
fly OF nations-Russia, Turkey. and
Persia-have reueated before the rising
tide OF democracy. and have granted to
their respective peoples some measure of
self-government In the cases of Turkey
and Persia, this brought in its train the
downfall OF Sultan and Shah. and their
successors take their places with i'm
paired power, and. it Is 70 DO hoped.
consciousness that the permanency Of
their dynasties depends upon their recog-
milton Of tho fact that kings. no less than
presidents. retain their positions by the
consent Of the governed. Even German
Emperor has been taught that the doc
trine of the divine right of kings has no
longer any place in the worlds policies.
and that the ministers Of government,
responsible TO the peoples legislature.
and not he are the mouthpieces OF a
peoples will
And india. too. has awakened. No
longer supine and fettered with the
chains OF caste. her SOO.OOOGOO people
Brahman. Buddhist. and Mohammedan-
have felt the magical power Of Demos.
Their muttered demands for political
freedom have been heard in England. and
a secretary OF state for India, who re-
ceived his political training under the
leadership OF that statesman of the VIC
torian era whose public career may be
said 70 be the history Of the political
emancipation OF the period. has needed
them. To John Morley the future his
torian Of India must point as the man
who laid the foundations OF a govern
ment for that country. based upon the
theory the denial OF which cost England
her American colonies. For he has
formulated a modification Of the scheme
Of government for India whereby there
is admitted to the provincial and supreme
legislative councils Of that empire native
members elected by the people. It is not
20 be understood that this transfers the
power Of government to the people OF
India. Far from It But It does mean
that the thin edge OF the wedge OF self
government has been driven in, and the
East Indian standing on the threshold
Of new era for his country. may know
that II he viii but completely shake OF
the WORKOUT garments OF superstition
and false aristocratlc ideals, there will
most certainly come 70 him that full
measure OF political responsibility that
makes men and nations.
Less than FIVE years ago a student OF
the administration Of tropical dependen-
cies, and a man whose criticisms OF our
rule in the Philippine Islands President
Taft much respected. wrote Of the prob
lem OF the government Of India that ''in
its broadcast terms It has been that OF
uniting under one general rule a dense
population distributed over an immense
area, and richly endowed with every at
tribute which makes for political and So
cial disintegratlon. In no part Of the
world have differences OF race and re-
ligion. operating throughout The span OF
human history. produced a complexity OF
interests. rivalry OF ambitions. an IN
tensity OF caste prejudice at all COM
parable with those which exist in India. %
II these concentrations be accurate. Nor
ley has embarked upon an experiment
fraught with much danger both to Eng
land and india But Il is unlikely. Eng
lish statesmen have learned through bit
ter experiences that they cannot ignore
the just aspirations Of those peoples
whose political destinles they have under
taken 20 guide.
And certainly. with nearly $50 years
OF governing India, some lessons have
been learned Enough. It is 70 be hoped.
so that II may never be said again Of
that government. as Burke once said OF
Il, 1T Is vulgar thing"