The New York herald., 1922-03-13

way for a realization of Indian Ideals
ia home rule, and the men accus-
toned TO rule as many as 5,00O,00O
ratives in their capacity as resident
Governor attached TO petty mon
arch are not willing to surrender
their splendid power and descend to
cooperation.
Thus the Government is divided in
to two opposing camps, with the like
lihood of those who view the progress
toward home rule with horror
gaining temporary victory. Lord
Readings position Is the weathercock
in the situation. IL he resigns it will
mean the unprogressive policy has
triumphed. II he remains in India 1t
will look forward to the development
of a liberal policy.
Indin Loaded With Debt.
In the meanwhile India Is stagger-
ing under burden of debt the loss
of German and Russian markets and
the policy of non-cooperation with
the British, which has almost shat
tered trade with the home country.
1t is suffering from the paralyzing
effects of internal dissensions, violent
agitation wherever there is a griev-
ance and the passive resistance of the
Gandhi followers.
Gandhi's movement for immediate
home rule is the outcome of old
Nihiist organizations which late In
the last century borrowed the methods
of the Russians and terrorized off,
;,t- NO fn
the policy of home rule. But 1t has
nothing in common with the Nihilism
of to-day.
Gandhi, like many other young In
dians, came TO London and studied
law. He returned to India with a
sense of grievance against those who
would make color line distinction
between Hindus and Englishmen, and
when he went to South Africa as a
barrister, where he found indentured
Indians forced to pay a head tax and
register because they were Asiatics.
he reached the determination to re-
lieve their hated distinction. He led
the passive resistance movement in
which the Indians refused to comply
with the law. He went to prison with
hundreds OF his countrymen and
finally succeeded In inducing the
South African Government TO soften
the distinction between Europeans
and Indians.
Gandht National Hero.
When he returned to India he was
naturally welcomed as a national hero
and his followers increased when they
found he had given away his fortune
and worked as humble cobbler for
tho ideal of a united, lf-governing
India. In the South African war, the
Zulu campaign and the late war he
recruited Indian students for service
with the British as members of the
ambulance corps. He himself served
in the first two wars. During this
time he was a pacifist. His hostility
toward British rule is OF recent birth.
and the British believe 1t is mainly
due to his having led movement he
can no longer control
The effect of educating Indians in
England and the United States has
been 10 create a class of men, mostly
lawyers. who in number far exceed
the limited number of Government
posts vacant In Indian service or the
opportunities for practicing their pro-
fession in their own country. They
have seen with envy Engishmen oc-
cupying positions to which they
thought themselves entitled, and they
have long conducted an agitation to
remove the British for their own bene-
fit.
The defeat OF the Russians In the
war with Japan showed the Indians
that the Europeans were not invinci-
BILE and constructed a fragile bridge
OF national pride over racial and re-
ligious caste differences-the first In
dia had known for centuries. That
gave a great impetus to home rule
government. which was originally
started by enlightened Englishmen,
who realized II was impossible to con-
tinue TO rule India without the fullest
participation by the Indians and the
eventual granting of self government
TO the natives.
Indians DisiIIusioncd In war.
The bringing Of Indian troops to
Europe In the recent war gave them
an insight into Western civilization.
and many who in their native vii
lagos had long cherished the idea that
London. the capital OF the empire.
was city of princely splendor and
the British Government a govern
ment Of perfection. found themselves
bitterly disilusioned. They professed
contempt for all they saw and heard
The poverty Of Londons back streets
appalled, them, accustomed though
they were TO conditions in India. and
the sduaior OF the cities the names of
which flled them with awe when
printed on cotton goods sent them