New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-16
Some Valuable Impressions OF
British Rule in lrdia.
rur WEST IN THE EAST FROM AN
Musician POINT OF VIEW. BY
Price Collier. svo. pp. tx. ga. Charles
Sons

The British government ought 10 con-
fer an order Of some sort on MIR. Col
uer besides purchasing for distributor
among its servants a volsIminous edition
of this book. AT once a tribute ana
criticism. IL sheds really helpful hght
,,non one of the most difficult problems
in the history Of modern colonial state
craft. MIR. Collier we hasten TO ada,
does not dream of Offering solution OF
that problem. on the contrary ne
makes this judicious statement; "A year
in the Far East has not converted me 10
any belief in my own omnisclence'
These sketches Of conditions there are
intended 10 furnish material to my
countrvrnen for drawing their own con-
illusions, as I have drawn mine But
this material that he supplies is close
wrapped in vigorous, careful thought
Hence the stimulating value OF Mr. COL
uer's impressions. The best OF all con-
trihutions 10 such a problem as tha'
with which he deals is the one partaK-
ing of the nature Of good conversation
steadily making for play OF IDEAS.
This author is not a dogmatist pleading
for specific action; his purpose is hrst
and last merely TO set his reader THINK
ing.
There lies the heaviest responsibility
OF the man OF action from the West Ia
boring in the East. We have Indicated
the profitable character Of this book for
the Briton. Mr. Collier has written 1t
with equal solicitude for the American
Even If we were not in control in the
West Indies and in the Philippine ISL
ands." he says, our position as guar
dams OF the Panama Canal and as spon-
sors for the safety from aggression OF
the South American republics and our
position on the Pacific ocean force us 70
play a part in the East strong navy
IS not more important for the support OF
such a position than is q correct under
standing Of the East. and that is one Or
the hardest things in the world TO
achieve. How hard II is one may judge
from the fact that the British. who have
been in India so long, are still far from
possessing a complete grasp upon the
ways of the people they have undertaken
10 govern. The superficial observer
turns from recognition OF this fact 10
foolish condemnation Of the Kings min
listers. Mr.. Collier is too wise and mas
TOO keen a sense Of hunor to waste his
time in the role of pedagogue. admins
terine good and bad marks. He knows
official stupidity when he sees II, and IS
frank enough, when he notes that II
flows from national habit Of mind, to
say So But he looks, rather, with an
Astounding sympathy to the appalling
complexity Of the Indian puzzle, and is
disinclined to blame anybody for max
ing mistakes in attacking it. Take for
example. that cry Of India for the Ind
ians." Of which so much has been heard
in recent years. Before the man of the
West. with his easy notion that
homogeneous people is being dominated
against it's will by an alien power, be-
gins 10 talk about a possible revolution
in the East Mr. Collier would have him
revise his ideas Of the actual structure
Of Indian society. Here is luminous
passage on the subject:
h India is "a continent. an' not in any
Nennse q nation Travel from Bombay let
kis say 10 PeshaWar. and from there drive
Virto the khaibar Pass. and as you traVel
p YOU see people as different from one ar
other as though YOU travelled from Seville
70 Moscow or from the city OF Mexico 90
Vancouver. and vet this is al InCld. Inc
error lies in confusing the idea OF India, In
talking OF or discussing India. as Though
India were ike Spain or Germany, IKE
Mexico or Canada. She not only mas layer
after layer ~ races, but also aver after
lavsr OF religions OF forms or government,
of customs and OF ideals ana preludIces. 1ot
are not dealing with one nation. nor VIII
ore religion, nor with one etnlcaI co1e'
nor with one language. nor with one gen.
eral trend Of social custom, but with scores
and scores Of them. There are half d
dozen different languages and over i've
hundred different dialects. Not 10 know
something OF al this. and something OF
midas previous history. Is 70 read Of India
and 20 travel IN India with the mind blind
folded.
To follow Mr.. Collier in his exposition
of British strength and weakness in the
face Of the handicaps stated in the fore
going quotation is 10 marvel that the
existing government has been as sue
cessfuI as IL can Justly claim TO be
That il is not as thoroughly popular
with the natives as II is effective in the
preservation OF their interests is due 70
an official shortcoming which Mr.. Collier
describes in words written by distin-
guished Indian gentleman, appreciative
OF British reforms but doubtful of their
conclusive efficacy Asserting that a
certain fatality seems 70 clog the steps
Of the government. this commentator
saws il is because whenever it does
ANYTHING useful for the people u knOTs
not hor TO 90 Il iuih good grace" Mr..
Collier italicizes the plant. for there, he
saws, in a nutshell is the ever present
criticism Of British rule. 1T is just,
honest. but unsympathetic and ungra-
cious" One practical policy he charac-
terizes as "indefensible and contempt
BILE" A peculiarly Indian industry,
which has employed its hundreds Of
thousands Of weavers and dyers has
been ruthlessly sacrificed for the benefit
Of the English manufacturer. The Eng
lish weaver is protected by duties, pre-
posterously high. from his Indian rivals.
British goods are forced upon India
without duty. while Indian weavers
were starved out by heavy duties Eng
land bids India supply her with raw
material. that che may employ her CAPT
tai and her labor profitably and then
sell the manufactured article 10 help
less India. deprived of the right 10 man
ufacture for herself We must
all aeree-Americans. French, Germans
CHI IN In tnc ny