The Viceroy of India, Lord Lansdowne, delivered, on November 10th,
at Agra, a most important speech. Nothing,
he said, had given him more pain than the recent revival of jealousy between the two great faiths of India. There were faults on both sides ; but the Government of India intended not only to show itself impartial, but strong. '' Let me tell you, in the plainest language, that we have no intention of permitting these exhibitions of lawlessness to be renewed. Disorder and crime will be put down with a strong and fear- less hand," The law secures to the Mussulmans their right of killing cattle according to their ritual, and to the Hindoos immunity from insult, and the Government will not depart an inch from that honourable policy. The slaughter of kine will never he put a stop to ; but any wanton outrage to religious feeling will at once be punished. Any disturbance of the peace will be put down by force. We shall not permit either section to terrorise the other one because it happens to be locally the stronger ; and while fully recognising the depth both of Hindoo and Mussulman religious feeling, "it is our duty to enforce the law, and yours to obey it." The Viceroy then made an urgent appeal to the native press to use with prudence the privilege of freedom accorded to it, and concluded by bidding both Hindoos and Mahommedans bring to the notice of Govern- ment any instances of partiality they may have observed. That is the true tone to take. The British Government in India is absolutely impartial among creeds, and will shoot down either Mussulmans or Hindoos, if they attack their rivals, with serene indifference to all but order. The speech, we believe, will produce the best effect, and will remind all the inhabitants that their lenient Government is neither apprehensive nor apathetic.
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