LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
UNREST IN INDIA.
[To SIVE Forms or Tax "Sem-urns:1 Sia,—In your article of the 11th inst. on the subject of "Unrest in India" you state that
It was always supposed that those natives who were trained in the science and literature of the West would become in a sense Western, and would honestly accept the leadership of the British Government as essential to the progress of civilisation in the great peninsula, for at least a long period of time. This, un- happily, has not proved to be the case.'-
The last statement seems to me to be too absolute, and I would deprecate the spread in England of any feeling that educated Indians are generally inappreciative of the English connexion. As some evidence to the contrary, I have in the -space of one hour culled the following passages from purely Indian papers representing various provinces :— " The tide which turns the life of a nation from ages of torpor to a new and vigorous life may not come more than once: and such a tide is the overlordship of the mighty nation over us, whose watchword is liberty and whose heart is sound at core, after all is said and done."—(Presidential Address, Kistna District Social Conference, June, 1904.) "The fundamental principle of the National Congress, loyalty to the British connection, must be emphasised in a practical manner more than at present. Speakers at the Congress should as religiously abstain from saying anything to wound the feelings of Anglo-Indians as a class, as they do from words calculated to wound the feelings of other Indian communities."—(Indian Social Reformer, Bombay, July 22nd, 1906.) "The King's message of hope will exert the most wholesome influence among all his Indian sehjects; it will strengthen their loyal feelings and their attachment both to the throne and the Empire."—(Indian Patriot, Madras, February 13th, 1907.) "British rule in India will be deprived of one of its most potent justifications if it ceased to exercise an unifying influence on the heterogeneous peoples of this country,"—(Indian Social Reformer, Bombay, November 4th, 1908.)
I was going to stop here, though I know that a little systematic search would produce some passages more signifi- cant than the above; but on opening the papers received by the last mail I find the following ready to hand without any search :—
" We do not see the least probability of an alternative Govern- ment, one half as just, tolerant and liberal as is the British Government of India."—(Indian Social Reformer, April 28th, 1907.) "The extremists may bring the heavens down by their per- fervid orations about Swaraj,.but can any of them lay his hand to his heart and say that, physically, morally and mentally, he is fit to be entrusted with the responsibility of governing the country ? Has it occurred to them what would be the fate of India. if the British were to leave the country ? Why, the Swarajists will be the first to tear each other."—(Indian Mirror, Calcutta, April, 1907.)
And another paper thus expresses its opinion of the " new school" which is so adverse to everything European
"Their forte seems to be abuse, vilification, impertinence and superlative silliness."—(Indu Prakask Bombay, April, 1907.)
And a fortnight earlier the Indian Nation of Calcutta observed that this school had nothing to distinguish it but " scurrility in the Press and factiousness in meetinks." And the Hindu Patriot of Madras said its attitude was "simply
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