The Washington herald., 1909-03-01
East Indian Affairs.
lito- The Washington Herald.

Editu- The Washington HeTald-
The letter on East Indian affairs IN
your issue OF February = invites remark
which you may perhaps admit.
The early days Of acquisition may be
passed over with the remark that they
we're marked by wanton plumber. and
that this plumber capitalized the new IN
ventions OF steam power, &c. which sup
plemented legislation IN crushing Indian
handiwork.
But we cannot pass by the succeeding
and present stage OF administration, for
70 the careful inquirer Il viii appear
that India is now in extreme. awful
AFFECT poverty" that farnines are more
frequent and more dreadful than when
Great Britain assumed imperial control,
and he viii find TIE logical explanation in
drastic taxation and IN absorption by
foreigners Of the cream Of the revenues.
Why should Americans be debarred
from such study and criticism? Perhaps
the thing that has directed attention 70
the economic questions OF India. as II
once was almost exclusively addressed 70
its religious questions. is that twice dur
ing a decade or so the begging bowl from
India for relief OF famine has traversed
this country, and such study naturally
followed f.
Il does not seem % be a question OF
seif-gOvernment that agitates the classes
that represent midas educated and en-
lightened aspiration. but a desire for
more adequate influence IN legislation
and executive function. and the laying
and disposal OF taxes.
The native congress. which has endured
disparagement and neglect for nearly a
quarter OF a century. is said 10 be re-
joiced by Lord Morley's proposals. though
he declares they do not tend In the direc-
ton OF representative government Their
expression Of satisfaction IS tempered BIZ
the hope that the details Of the plan
may prove confOrmable 10 its purpose
They may well say so. in view Of the
legislative promise OF 1S53. sOlemnly re-
peated and sanctioned by the Empress Of
India IN 1855. but repudisted in practice,
as Lord Lytton testified.
In view OF the average salaries paid,
SIS TO the native. ee7 TO the European,
il does not clearly appear that the num-
bers IN employment show that India
/ is practically administered by Indians,
under the supervision Of small number
! OF Europeans. Might not one as well
say that numbers show that an army is
ruled by its enlisted men? Why is the
native who seeks responsible employment
/ IN government service obliged to so TO
/ England for examination? The question
/ seems 10 carry its own answer, but II
I any one viii inquire further. he will find
many examples Of how Independence
I 49,
/ Mr.. Thackeray. Of the board Of revenue
/ Of Madras. proposed Consult. for ex-
/ ample, Poverty and Cn-BTitish Rule IN
/ India by Naoroji concluding on page
u as follows. This comparison shows
/ how natives. far better educated, are put
very much inferior in rank. position. and
] enoluments 70 Europeans, very much IN
/ ferior IN requirements. The class Of
natives from which alone some have gone
over and successfully passed the exami-
nation III England IS put below a class
/ Of Europeans from which not one has
/ ever ventured, as far as 1 can ascertain,
/ TO stand the ordeal Of the same examina-
/ ton
As to taxation, how can it be said to
/ be lighter than IN any other civilized
( country Perhaps that is not always
what IS said. but Il IS what IS under
stood. when the language Is that the tax
/ per head Is lighter. &C. This reminds one
/ OF Mr. Carnegie saying TO the commit
/ tee Of Congress: They talk in a Ian
| guage which you do not understand p
/ Whoever inquiries how the tax stands,
| COMPARED 70 the income, VIII begin to
! understand the language, for the income
! Is variously estimated from $ to $40 per
/ aunum. Either figure seems to presage
/ famine. and when an agricultural tax OF
n per cent Of net produce is laid on
such incomes. It seems wonderful that
famine delays for the failure Of the mon
soons-
7 an far from decrying the benefits
mat reach India through British rule In