Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-21

JUDGES and ancient traditions. but an
India to o very large and new extent
united against British rule. united for
home rule, II not actual national in-
Dependence. This Ghandi. who is
leading them in this curious and con-
hicting unity, is proving a mighty
power in the land. Too wise to stir up
open strife, too sagacious to reopen
old conflicts between Indians thenr-
selves. he is the arch-exponent Of
passive resistance" of the boycott
Of that mastery inactivity that can be
* mighty n f~ar-reaching in its ef-
fccts.
Everything depends upon the young
Prince receiving a royal welcome. up
received in that strange country. The
varied and multitudinous peoples of
India have always held In inherent
respect for royalty. for the glamour
and panoply of thrones. Much Of the
success OF british rule III India hither-
to has beer her ceremonious consider-
alton for this worshipful trait in Sall
classes and sects Of Indians. Shc has
maintained the por1p II majesty Of
royalty in all governmental affairs,
she has upheld the glamour of native
princes, and when her sovereigns have
visited India sumptuous grandeur has
been the keynote, superlative cere-
mony, conventional magnihcence.
But the young Prince Of Wales is
just a wholesome boy. fearless and
courageous. with a winning Smile and
charming On his trip to the
other British dominions he has shed
as much of the %trappings and. gorgeo-
sity Of royalty a. could be dispensed
with. Hc has been a good fellow"
pleasantly democratic, and won his
personal popularity strictly upon those
lines. He has been able to chat with
politicians, statesmen, business men,
officials on an equal footing as man to
man. He has convcrsed with their
wives. danced with their daughters
and very successfully avoided the faux
pas which beset the ways Of social
royalty.
But in India it will be different.
There. while it is Indians he would
wish to meet. Indians he would wish
to propitiate, Indians he would wish
to know and Understand, officialdom
Is largely British and most of the In
dams he will meet will be the prince
lings maintained in power by Britain
tn their various top-heavy principali-
ties. Yet for this visit of his to be a
success it is Indians hat must line
the streets in ecstatic welcome; the
Indian peoples who must voice. the
liza ~ AANAoi SooSJSSS ~ nus
shout, God bless the Prince of
Wales. Otherwise his journey will
nave been in vain. And the great fear
is that Ghandi can make this well
come silent and sinister. that he can
keep the people off the streets, hush
their voices, make the welcome" elo-
quent with silent contempt. And the
young Prince knows exactly what may
be in store for him-at the best a
lukewarm welcome, at the second best
a cold boycott and at the worst asas-
sination at the hands of some infiam-
ed patriot. Few of us would care to
undertake so dubious a visit. few Of
US would voluntarily risk so much for
SO meager a possible triumph. But
the young prince has decided that to
Withdraw would be cowardly. That
this India, so vital a part OF the Brit
ish Empire over which he may some
day rule, is an essential part Of his
education, his understanding and that.
come what may, his duty is quite
clear. If he triumphs it will be a
triumph. indeed. the crucial test as
grim. uncertain crisis, with the Prince
! Of Wales, like his famous grandfather
as the arch-diplomat and peace-mak-
err. But If he fails it will be a bitter
! h humiliation at best-and perchance
the fate Of IN empire may depe1d up
on it
Just the visit Of a. young courageous
boy to a coterie of his fathers restless
subjects-yet a visit significant with
awful portent both to himself and his
country. The supreme test of a per
sonality and the security OF an EN-.
pire.-Los Angeles Times