The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-18
INDIA revolt remote.
Opinion Of A. P. Correspond
ent After Interviewing
All Classes.

Simla, India.-t Correspondence OF
the Associated ss.)-Many stories
have appeared at various times to the
effect that India was on the verge Of
an armed revolt. Though the revolu-
ton has not vet materialized, the
question OF the real attitude OF the
people still furnishes material for spec
ulation abroad. To all outward APP
pearances the traveller today finds In
tia as peaceful as America, butsthe wa
tcrs of sedition run deep and to learn
the facts a correspondent Of the Assoc
ciated Press has interviewed many
peopleAmeican residents, British Of
ficials and business men. Indian sub
jects Of varying rank In private life,
and conservative and radical Indian
politicians. both Mohammedan and
Hindu.
The vast majority of the 3l5,OOO, 900
Inhabitants are peace loving folk who
are opposed to all ideas of revolution
airy hloodshed. The illiterate class,
which forms the bulk Of the popula-
ton. has little or no interest in poll
tics. The educated people Of the law
abiding section, whether they be ultra
radical home rule advocates or not,
desire to remain part of the British
| empire. feeling that the protection Of
Great Britain is ESSENTIAL to the welfare
of India. Most of them look forward
| to the time when India will occupy a
position similar to that of Canada and
Australia; many assert that India is
ready for the change now, but they all
hope to achieve their aims by peace
full methods, and in all events do not
desire a total severance from England.
| There is a certain amount Of sedi-
| tious unrest in various sections but the
| people who harbor revolutionary ideas
are declared to be negligible in number.
| The cliques are more or less indcpend-
emit Of one another and arc composed
largely Of men who have received a
smattering of European education. The
majority have studied with the idea OF
entering the government service. Nat
urally, Their are not enough civil serv-
ice positions to 60 around, and as
these men feel that having acquired
polish, they are above returning to the
| trades of their fathers they find them
selves without means of making live
lihood. For this they blame the gov
eminent. 1dleness brings them to-
gether for discussions of their alleged
wrongs and they prove fertile ground
for the really educated professional ag-
itator to work upon.
OF the totally illiterate people sreat
numbers are stiIl in the primitive state
and their minds operate along tn,
same lines as did those of their ances
tors centuries ago. Their thoughts
mainly concern their stomachs. If the,
have food enough to stay their hun
ger and a place in the sun they ar,
content. The question of who is ruling
them does not bother them in the least
Many Of them undoubtedly never heart
of England, or any other place out
side their own little sphere. and i
would be difficult to convince then
that they ought to rise in arms to Gus
the governing power.
In country az vast as India Their,
is always a probability that local trou
bles may occur. Things are quiet IA
the moment but it would be unsafe t,
predict that seditionists might not st
up feeling which would result In loca
disturbances tomorrow. Such event
have occurred since the beginning o
the war. the most pretentous attemp
having been made in the Punjab as tn
'result Of Il conspiracy developed anon,