The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
By Ex-ATTACHE.

OF such grave concern. arise from the at
tempts that are made 70 govern India
from London, instead OF from Calcutta
This IS no new story. II has been the
plant for near 20 years past OF those
men 10 whom is intrusted the arduous
task Of maintaining law and order
among soaOoa0oo OF natives. Of the most
diverse ereeds. prejudice, and nationality
that their work Is constantly being ham
pered. obstructed. and nullihed By the
authorities al home.
In the days OF the cid East India Com
pany the English officials laboring 10
maintain the supremacy Of the British
Crown in Hindustan. were wont 10 re-
gard Leadenhan street, where the Offices
Of the directors were situated. as their
chief bugbear. Since the powers Of the
conpany were assumed, In 1S5Ss by the
Department Of India, with Offices look
ing Gut on TO St. James Park. the An
glo-Indian official has been accustomed
70 speak much in the same way Of the
Shadow Of Whitehall
TO put the matter briefly. the more in
reference there Is from London, the
more diffcult it becomes for the officials
Of the British administration in India
20 carry on their work Constituting as
they do. a mere handful Of Engiishmen
amoHg teeming millions OF natives, they
are compelled 10 rely upon the prestige
of their Offices and of their personality,
in order 20 secure the submission Of the
East Indians 10 laws that are often the
e. -N.nN1
foundation Of British supremacy in IN
dia. Is the prestige Of those intrusted
with the actual administration Of Eng
lands guzerainty and sovereignty IN Hin
dustan. Anything that is calculated 10
diminish that prestige inpairs the safety
Of England's rule there. And there Is
nothing that is more calculated 20 de-
stroy that prestige than when Whitehall
oveTrides the views, disavows the acts,
and reverses the decisions. OF the vice
TOY. and Of his principal ministers,
councillors. and officials at Calcutta
The cream Of English OfflcialdOm in
Hindustan is composed OF men whose
families have for generations been iden-
tilted with the British administration OF
this great Oriental empire. who have
been reared amid its associations. and
who in many instances have been born
on its soil.
Their knowIedge Of the people and Of
the country, partly acquired through per
sOnsI experience, and partly, too. through
family tradition, is infinitely superior 20
that enjoyed by and secretary OF state
for India IN London; and while the vice.
roy, as a general rule, Is a noble or
statesman who has never served IN IN
dia before assuming the duties Of gov
ernOr-general he has this advantage
over any cabinet minister al home, that
he is on the spot. in immediate and In
innate touch with the natives Of high
and low degree, and surrounded by the
very best element OF those English Of
ficiaIs who have devoted their lives 10
upholding English rule in India
In the case Of Oriental countries. much
depends upon continuity Of policy Ash
atics and Africans are as yet unable to
master the mysteries Of parliamentary
government, in spite Of al that is said
to the contrary. True, the average
term Of Office OF a viceroy OF India is
for five years-sometimes extended, as
in the case OF LORD Curzon. But, II q
sensible man, he realizes his Own com
parative Ignorance about the country, is
glad 10 avail himself Of the advice and
experisnce OF the permanent English
ofhcialdcm in India. and rarely attempts
10 insugurate any innovations or rever-
sails OF the policy OF his predecessors
Unfortunately, the secretary Of state
for India Is free from any such iHfu-
ences. Any personal acquaintance that
he NAV have acquired about India wiz
only have been gained as a tourist. dur
ing a few weeks visit. and the old adase
10 the effect that little knowledge is a
dangerous thing is likewise applicable
20 this case. he is supposed 10 be
guided by the advice Of a board COM
posed OF retired AngIo-Indian officials
and known as the council Of India
But their Offices are for the most part
a sinecure, and their duties nominal The
secretary of state Is not. as many sup
pose, compelled 10 abide by their deCis-
ions. but, as member Of the cabinet
accords his chief consideration in such
matters to the ministerial majority in
Parliament
And the opinions Of Parliament in the
matter Of the Indian administration are
worthless The members OF that body
have as q rule no knowledge OF India
beyond what they have obtained from
the newspapers, have indeed an extreme
ly limited acquaintance with colonial and
international policies. their views being
distinctly parochisl.
They fail TO realize that principles and
laws that are indispensable for the good
order and welfare Of the public Ia the
United Kingdom, are altogether inappIi-
cable 10 India, and that. on the other
hand. King Edward is compelled to toll
crate domestic slavery, and other things
OF the same kind, poiygamy in india,
which he could not possibly permit IN
Great Britain.
The attempts Of the British govern
ment to rule India IN accordance with
the views and prejudces Of the parlia-
msntsry majority at Westminster, have
always resulted in failure and in trouble.
and the only secretaries OF state for In
dia who proved a success. are those who
have worked Independently Of Parlia-
ment, and both in touch and in unison
with the vieeroy and his council az Cal
cutta-
Now Lord Morley, Of Blackburn, emf
nent in literature, and IN statecraft,
where the domestic affairs OF Great Brit
ain are concerned, is one Of those minis
ters who are endeavoring TO rule India
with a greater regard for the parlia-
meEtary majority at Westminster. than
for the views. based on experience. Of
the viceroy, and Of his fellOw-E6mlnis-
traitors at Calcutta.
The innovations to which he has COM
mitted himself in connection with the
government Of India, while they COM
mend themselves TO people In England
are looked upon as impTactieable, and
even as dangerous BY British Official
dom throughout the length and breadth
OF Hindustan-
And il IS because Lord Minto resents
the manner In which he has been over
ridden by Lord Morley. and because he
does not desire 10 have any hand in the
execution OF a policy OF which he strong
y disapprOves. that he is resigning the
vicer0yalty OF India. the grsn5est and