Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-03-01
III TZ22TOT IEZZhIZZz72 HID
BRZDGE III 2EzIZI

Nhicl will affect 100000 human beings and
4 area as large as that of France or Germany.
The province of Bengal, which was partitioned
by Lord CurZon In 1905 against the violent
protest of it's people, and which has been the
headquarters of the sedition 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-
lached from Bengal and form new province,
ander 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 to be raised to the rank of a presidency
latter the example of Madras and Bombay
with a governor from England appointed by the
King.
1t is hardly exaggeration to say that
40 such sweeping administrative change as
his has taken place since the British crown
look over the government of the country from
The East India company at the close Of the mu-
lny in 1858. AS to the motives which prompt
ed the move there is a conflict of opinion. The
aationalists regard it as a victory for their
cause, They consider that the modification of
the partition of Bengal-which the English au
thorttes have repeatedly declared would never
be altered-is confession of weakness on the
part OF the government, and some of the lead
of the unrest are bold enough to say 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 array of practical
arguments in favor of the change which sue
cessfuly disposes of any theory that the gov
eminent was driven to the measure as the re-
suit of seditious agitation. In less troublous
times the move would seem justified on plain
administrative grounds AS 1t is it 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, it's first effect has been
precisely the opposite of what was expect
ed. 1t 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 frs, to denounce
the arrangement declaring with true In
dian perversity that sentimental considera-
lions mean nothing to them in comparison
with the loss of their political power in the
abolition of the province of Eastern Bengal.
Et is not the Mohammedans, but their ances-
trail foes, the Rajputs, who welcome the es-
adjustment 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-
cIared that they are more than compensated
by the wished-for union of the Bengali peo-
pIe The Hindus in Eastern Bengal have been
lighting bonfires for a month past in celebra-
ton of the event So far as can be ascertain
sd the inhabitants of the newly created prov
lnce of Behar and Orissa are pleased at their
release from Bengal domination. Bombay, the
Punjab and the United Provinces are sensible
of the advantages that will accrue to them for
Geographical reasons. The rest Of India is n
different.
Delhi is regarded by the government as
better place for capital than Calcutta, be-
cause of it's historic traditions, central To-
cation. and better climate, which will en-
able the yiceroy and his staff to reside
there for all but four months of the year. ON
the other hand, 1t is more removed from the
commercial interests and active life OF modern
India. Europeans in Calcutta have not hesi-
tated in declaring that 1t will be little better
than a "Simla of the Plains. The rearrahge-
ment of the provinces will make for greater ad-
ministratiye efficiency, though that again Is
criticized on the ground that the modlhcation
of the partition of Bengal is useless con-
cession to an agitation that was already prac-
*icaIIv dead while 1t will undo ell the good
xo-k which has been started n the backward