LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
[Lettere of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space] THE INDIAN REFORM BILL.
[To THE EDITOR OP TM " SPECTATOR."] Sm,—Allow me to thank you for your excellent article on " The Indian Reform Bill." You are among the few papers that take any interest in this momentous question. As a pupil of that doctrinaire autocrat Lord Morley, Mr. Montagu is not troubled about facts, but even he must have had two unpleasant surprises. (1) The Rowlett Commission's Report, with its revelation of underground sedition and class hatred. It is true that he did all he could to prevent the early publica- tion of the Report in England. (2) The reception of the Row- lett Acts. As you say, " the Acts are framed for the defence of honest men and innocent .persons." But bow have they been received in India? The riots in Amritsar and -Ahmeda- bad are the answer. I have passed at least a dozen years in Ahmedabad. It is sickening to read of the atrocities in that once peaceful and beautiful city. The Government offices burnt down, an English pollee sergeant dragged out and beheaded, the head clerk of the Mambdar in a neighbouring town burnt alive, and all this to cries of " Mahethaiiji Gandhi Ki jai! " and " Ham safed gosht mangte !" (" We want white meat! "1—i.e., as a sacrifice to the Goddess Kali. Mr. Gandhi is largely responsible for this with his ridiculous satygrahi, passive resistance, and seditious work among the ignorant mill hands. This gentleman is, I believe, still at large.
But it may be said this is the work of extremists. The Ministers under the new regime would be men like Lord Sinha and Mr. B.hupendranath Bass, of the Secretary of State's Council. I have no doubt that these gentlemen are cultured men with perfect manners, and no wish to sacrifice Englishmen or any one else to Kali. But what have their fellows in India done ? The members of the Legislative Council have opposed the Rowlett Bills, and when they were carried by the official majority have resigned. Would Lord Sinha or Mr. Basu or any other Moderates have had the pluck to do otherwise It is quite clear that when Bal Gangadhar Tilak pipes the tune, the Moderates dance to it, or hide in some corner till the trouble is over. They are no good either to India or England.
With whom then does Mr. Montagu hope to govern India? He cares not, so long as he carries out his dream of handing over India to an extremely small oligarchy, and this in the sacred name of Democracy. But is it too late for the people of England, or even for the indifferent House of Commons, to take some trouble to study the question for themselves and not be led by the nose by Mr. Montagu ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
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