The Columbus journal., 1910-07-06

would do credit to any nobleman In
Europe or millionaire in America.
Around his table ] met several dis
sentients like himself. including .
h!gh-caste Brahmin. the director of the
greatest Hindu temple in Bombay. .
Swami or god In his yellow robe.
and the very intelligent widow Of one
Of midas chief and much.mourned re-
formers.
I asked them each and all. as We
discussed some excellent tea and sand
wiches and sweetmeats. what the feel
ing was toward the present regime in
India Their answers. condensed and
edited but not distorted. ] hope. were
something as follows: We acknowl.
edge that. in some respects. British
rule has been blessing to India. and
as things are now. We couldn't get
along without IT, Injustice Is better
than anarchy. But We do not like
to be treated As children. India IL
like q growing boy. and the clothes
that fitted him q quarter Of q century
ago are altogether too small now.
Even now nine-tenths of the Offices
that pay from one hundred to ono
thousand rupees a month (from $33
to $33O are in the hands Of the Brit
ish. and a native with the same quail.
fications does not stand nearly as good
a chance Of promotion as white man.
What We demand is free education for
our children. an1 an equal chance
at the higher government positions
for our people. We no longer wish 10
be treated as dependents and inferi-
ors."
Put" vertured to inquire. do not
the new reform laws which have been
promulgated this very week show the
purpose Of the government to deal
fairly. and give the people larger
and larger measure Of self-govern-
ment?'
Yes. they are good as far as they
go" was the reply. but they don't go
very far in giving India to the In.
dians."
q
good ways in this direction. perhaps
quite as far as it is wise TO go at pres
ent. and that they will do not little
to satisfy the reasonable desires Of all
but the extremists
II is interesting to note that tbs
rulers of the native states. Of which
there are over six hundred. the rajahs
and maharajahs. are unit In their
desire to uphold the authority Of the
British. They realize that their only
hope for PEACE and prosperity. and the
security of their rather shadowy
crowns. is In the over-lordship of some
strong foreign power: ard II this au-
thority were withdrawn. the different
nationalities would get at each others
threats like SO many Kilkenny cats.
Realizing this, maharajah of Cash
mere has deported the agitatOrs from
his state. and has absolutely forbidden
any meetings of their sympathizers.
The gaekwar Of Banoda has done tho
same thing. The chief Justice OF the
native state of Bharatpur. Christian
convert and a leading figure at the
recent Christian Endeavor convention
at Agra. told me most emphatically
that his raiah and he himself would
greatly dep!ore any weakening OF the
British authority: that. on the whole.
It vas Just and fair. and infinitely
better than the state Of things In
former days.
Famines still occur. but they are
nothing to what they were cen.
fury or two centuries ago. Warreu
Hastings, for instance. IN 1870 report
ed a famine that swept of one-third
of the population Of Bengal. killing
three millions of people in that one
province. and leaving hundreds OF vii
lagos utterly desolated. Horrible as
some recent famines have been. moth.
ing like that is today possible. for
the excellent railway system Of India
can now hurry supplies across the PEN
insula in two days. and an intelligent
II somewhat too patriarchal govern.
ment looks after its children. SO far
As possible. in all parts OF the mighty
empire.
The personal equation In the unrest
in India must not be forgotten Tho
rude. boorish. overbearing treatment
of natives by Europeans has much to
do with 1t. II Englishmen and indeed
all foreigners would use little more
tact and cOrsiderateness in their per-
sonal dealings with natives. treating
them not as an inferior creation or as
dogs OF the street. as some do; II
they would use a little more OF the
gentle smavity with this polite and
subservient race for which the prince
Of Wales pleaded on his recent visit to
India, the unrest in India would be
sensibiy reduced. and the rule OF the
dominant race would be far more Sc
cure in the days to come.
Copy right. 1910. by Joseph B. BowlesI