Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-10
THE EMPIRE OF INDIA
ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIA
By Frederic j. HaSkin

proved their bravery and loyalty in
South Africa in the war against the
Beers; they proved their devotion to
the empire on the march to Picking in
1900, and there is not the slightest
doubt today of the loyalty OF the
Sepoys. But the taxpayers are not pre-
pared to be so loyal.
Another thing which would follow
close upon the heels of autonomy. say
the native leaders, would be the estab-
lishment of system of free schools
for primary education, attendance to
be made compulsory In as many dis
tricts as possible The native state of
Baroda, under the rule of the enlight-
ened Gaekwar has free education with
compulsory attenrance. British India
ought not to lag behind a native state,
say the leaders of the reform move
ment.
More important, perhaps, than all
these things is the question of irriga-
tion. The government now spends
goodly amount of money on irrigation,
but 1t is always a minor consideration
The military establishment gets what
it asks for. and the balance Is divided
out for other purposes. The Indians
declare that. If they are given the right
of self-government, they will devote
the greater part of the surplus revenue
eto Increasing the fertility and pro-
ductivity of the land, and reave the
imperial art of war to take care OF
itself.
In the last debate on the Imperial
budget, Mr.. ]. Dadabhoy, Parsee non
official member of the council, quoted
William Jennings Bryan's criticism of
the British government in India on this
question. Mr.. Bryan's article headed
'Money for an Army, None for Irriga-
tion," printed In the New York Sun
about two years ago, Is still live
issue of debate in India. The native
Indians point to 1t as proof of their
assertions, the English explain that Mr..
Bryan was deceived into taking
superficial view of affairs, and that the
army expense Is all necessary. Never
theless. 1t is a fact that 10 per cent OF
the army appropriation would, In five
years. complete a system of irrigation
already surveyed and approved. which
would bring into cultivation 100000
acres of what Is now arid and semi
arid lands But instead of taking that
10 per cent away from the army, the
army appropriation has been Increased
each year and the irrigation schemes
are not carried out.
Such is the nature OF the extremely
practical reforms which the Indians say
until they are given the right to make
their own laws, levy their own taxes,
and vote their own budget. The pure
w sentimental craving for liberty
has a surprisingly small part In the
agitation. Like all great successful rev.
olutions in history, the Indian unrest
is founded upon an economic and COM
mercial basis.
- 4 ~ bn tatxan for granted
that India is a unit upon these ques-
tions. India is united upon no cues
tion. The aspirations and hopes or the
Indians who captain the hosts or the
discontented are plainly the result OF
English education, European training
and western thought. The Tory party
in India is thoroughly conservative and
oriental. When the government was
obtaining the views of the leading
men of the country on the subject OF
the reform scheme, some OF the replies
were distinctly reactionary. One blood
thirsty old Moslem said that the gov
ernment, instead OF giving people the
right to vote. ought to hang few peo-
pie every year on general principles
lust to show how powerful 1t was.
Khan Bahadur Aurangzeb Khan, n
retired tax commissioner is very much
opposed TO the reforms and the policy
OF giving natives seats on the legisla-
tive and executive councils. He said:
mo. sahib, It VIII not do. Consult us
II you will, but do It secretly. IL Is
not right to put people in opposition
TO government. The sakar-that is. the
British government in India-is we'll
meaning. but Il has made two mistakes.
First, II has given education to people
untitled for it; and, second, 1t has put
the tenants above the landlords. NOW
II wishes to put the people above it.
self. No. sahib, II is not right to men
ton the name of councils where the
people may hear. 1t will spoil them.
The government is well-meaning; let 1t
rule"
Whether the Indians. II given the
power Of government would be
capable Of bringing about the desired
reforms, 1t is impossible to say The
Indian national congress is purely
native body which has held annual
meetings for a quarter of century
to discuss the needs of the empire. It's
resolutions have been carefully pre-
sented to the government, and have
been carefully filed away. Except IN
bringing the people OF different parts
of the nation, and Of different religions.
into contact with each other, the con-
gress has accomplished little. Since the
beginning OF the present unrest, one
| session broke up in a fight between the
Moderate and the Extreme parties. The
English opponents of reform point to
the congress as proof that the Indians
are wholly unfit to manage their own
affairs. But IL that congress were in
vested with power to do something
more than pass resolutions, there might
be difference. Whatever ones opinion
of the fitness of India for autonomy
the sober and practical character of the
reform program compels respect.
copyright, 1909, by Frederic J. HaskinO
Tomorrow-The Empire of India. VII;
Consultation and Government.