The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-03-01
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which will affect S2OOO,OOO human beings and
an area as large rs that of France or Germany
The province of Bengal which was partitioned
by Lord Curzon in 1905 against the violent
protest or its people, and which has been the
headquarters OF the sediton in India ever
since Is to be reunited. The great divisions
of Behar, Chota Nagpur and Orissa which now
belong to Bengal although their populations
are distinct in race and language, will be de.
tached from Bengal and form new province,
under the control OF lieutenant governor and
council. Assam is to be separately admins
tered by chief commissioner as was the case
prior to 1905. Lastly, the province Of Bengal
is 10 be raised to the rank of a presidency
(aiter the example of Madras and Bombay
with a governor from England appointed by the
king
1t is hardly an exaggeraton TO say that
no such sweeping administrative change "a
this has taken place since the British crown
TOOK over the government of the country from
the East India company at the close OF the mu-
tiny In 1858. AS to the motives which promDt.
ed the move there is a conflict OF opinion The
natonalists regard 1t a victory for their
cause. They consider that the modification OF
the partition of Bengal-whch the English au
thorities have repeatedly declared would never
be altered-is confession of weakness on the
part OF the government, and some of the lead.
ers of the unrest are bold enough to saw that
the government transferred the capitol TO Delhi
because Calcutta had got too hot to hold it.
On the other hand the dispatches which passed
between Simla and London, which have now
been made public, contain an array OF practical
arguments in favor OF the change. which sue
cessfully dsposes OF any theory that the gov
ernment was driven TO the measure as the re-
suit of seditous agitation. In less troublous
times the move would seem justified on plain
grounds. AS it is, 1t must be
considered as a bold experiment, which is ad-
mirable in theory but which in practice can
only be justified by success.
Curiously enough, its first effect has been
precisely the opposite OF what was expect
ed Ii was thought that the Mohammedans
would hail with JOY the establishment Of
the central government in the ancient cap
ital of the Moghul emperors On the con-
trary. they have been the first to denounce
the arrangement declaring with true In
dian peryersity that sentimental considera-
tions mean nothing to them I'm comparison
with the loss of their political power in the
abolition Of the province of Eastern Bengal.
1t is not the Mohammedans. but their ances-
tral foes, the Rajputs, who welcome the es-
tablishment of the capital within easy reach
of their territory. The Bengalis, too who
were expected to resent the loss OF prestige
to Calcutta involved in the transfer have de-
cared that they are more than compensated
by the wlshed-for union OF the Bengal peo-
pie The Hindus in Eastern Bengal have been
lighting bonfires for month past In celebra.
tion of the event. SO far as can be ascertain
ed the inhabitants Of the newly created prov.
ince of Behar and Orissa are pleased M their
release from Bengal domination Bombay, the
Punjab and the United Provinces are sensible
OF the advantages that will accrue to them for
reasons. The rest Of India is in
different
Delhi Is regarded by the government as a
better place for capital than Calcutta, be
cause OF its historic traditions, central lo-
cation, and better climate, which will an.
able the viceroy and his stan to reside
there for all but four months OF the year. on
the other hand, Il is more removed from the
interests and active life OF modern
India. Europeans in Calcutta have not hesi.
tated In declaring that It will be little better
than "Simla Of the Plains" The rearrange-
ment Of the provinces will make for greater ad.
ministrative efficiency. though that again IL
criticized on the ground that the modification
OF the partition OF Bengal is a useless con.
cession TO agitation that was already prac.
tically dead, while Il will undo all the good
work which has been started in the backward