AN EXAMPLE OF THE INFERIORITY COMPLEX.
The statesmanlike ruling " of the President of the Indian Legislative Assembly in respect of the discussion of the Public Safety Bill inspired reflections as to what would be thought of the intelligence and competence of a Member of Parliament who should argue that the House of Commons could not proceed with a Bill to amend the law relating to theft while a pick-pocket was under trial for that offence. The mentality of. the pleader " type of Western-educated Hindu is a remarkable phenomenon, only too familiar to anyone who has ever been engaged in administrative work in India. It appears- to be the effect of an inferiority com- plex. The mischievous small boy cannot work a piece of mechanism ; but he can, at any rate, demonstrate his own power and abilities by throwing a handful of sand into the working parts ; . and he does it. And in due course amiable theorists on democracy are found wringing their hands over the inevitable reaction which produces Oliver Cromwells, Mnsiolinis and other competent leaders intolerant of inept futility parading itself in the trappings of democratic institu- tions.—A., Hotel Beau Rivage, St. Raphael (Var.).
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