THE SITUATION IN INDIA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12896, 30 August 1907, Page 6

THE SITUATION IN INDIA.

The measures adopted by the Government of India;, with the full support of the British Government, for the supprosion of the revolutionary movement in India, seem to have had some success in restoring order, at least out« wardly. Nothing in connection with the whole unfortunate business lias been, more gratifying to the average Briton than the manner in which Mr John Morley has dealt with the crisis. There were fears at the outset that such a pronounced Kadi-

cal would be so imbued with "Little "Englandbm" that he might endearour to-make terms with the malcontents, and by that confession of weakness make bad matter* infinitely worse. But the party of discontent found that the Radical SecreUry for India was as determined to uphold British rule in India ns the most patriotic Briton could desire. In hta public utterances he has been firm without being aggressive, and it ia due to his unimpeachable attitude that the trouble has not assumed more «erioiis dimensions, as would have undoubtedly been the case had there been the faintest suggestion that the British Government was not in entire sympathy with the Government of India. Thero is', unhappily, still room for anxiety. It cannot be hoped that such grave unrest as existed in many parts of India only six weeks ago will subside at once. Whatever finally awoke the movement into active life—and bo far that is a mystery—tho trouble has its origin in causes that have been existing for many years. The "Spectator," commenting on the seriousness of the situation, points out that it has arisen because "the class of educated natives "which we have created, baffled in "their ambitions and with,, a new con- " sciousness of their capacity, have " decided that tho only way to the rea- " lisation of their hopes lies through " the overthrow of the British Gc~ " vernment and the substituting for it "of a Government, or many Govern- " ments, entirely native." To effect this purpose they have used all the weapons of caluraniy in the armoury of a virulently seditious natiro Press, they have tried to incite the native troops to mutiny, and they have fanned to white heat tho racial antagonism between tho Hindus and the Mahommerlans, the native Press being active in making mischief by charging the Mabommedans with every conceivable infamy. It ia easy to imagine from this what would happen if England were, in some inconceivably foolish moment, to abandon India. The Peninsula would immediately become the scene of such icivil wars as it has not witnessed tor more than a century, and after that would come the partition* of the country among the nations who look with longing eyes on England'e great Empire in the East. The Hindu may think be is oppressed under the British "raj," but his last state, If England left him to manage things ioi himself, would be infinitely worse than bis present condition.

Believing that the venacular Prew afforded an outlet for the windy grumblings of discontented babue, the Government of India has so far treated it with extreme leniency. But the day for leniency has passed. The freedom of the Press is a privilege that Englishmen do' not lightly attempt to restrain, but when newspaper* become vehicles for a propaganda that is frankly revolutionary, and that openly contemplates, even urges, the massacre of Europeans, suppression becomes an imperative necessity. The evil lies,, however, deeper than the newspapers. It eoems to permeate" the whole native population of Bengal) with the exception of the Mahommedans. The organisation knewn as the National Volunteers has a branch in almost every village, the members being drilled and trained in archery and the use of sticks and swords by professional instructors. They are active preachers of revolt, and they employ boycotting and terrorism in their campaign egainst {he British. The Government schools in Bengal are being" deserted in favour of national schools, founded and financed by Bengalis, and the students of Government-aided colleges in Calcutta defy the veto placed upon their attendance at political meetings. It is good news that l the condition of affairs in the Punjaub shows a marked improvement, for if the loyalty of the Sikhs had wavered the situation would have become much more dangerous. But even, as it • ie, Calcutta remains a hotbed of revolt, infecting the ivbole of Bengal, and tho cemplete restoration of good feeling, it is to be feared, is far distant.