THE UNREST IN INDIA.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13160, 6 July 1908, Page 6

THE UNREST IN INDIA.

'Reflect that the Bengalis havo taken " to Anarchism," remarks a writer in tho London "Spectator," in concluding an article on the present unrest of Asia, "and doubt for a momont "whether we thoroughly understand " tho brown races." The remark has peculiar appropriateness in viow of the latest nows from India. To thoso who are interested—as wo must all be—in tho present state of affairs in that great dependency, the announcement in Saturday's paper that seven men "including Ghose, a famous Bengal doc- " tor," had been arrested in connection with an attempt to dynamite a train, has a significance beyond the ordinary. For it would seem to point to the fact that tho Moderate party in Bengali politics has adopted tho tactics of tho extremists. Ghosh, or Ghose, is, of course, a common Bengali title, but tho reference can hardly bo to anyone but lias Behari Ghose, a Doctor of Laws of the Calcutta University, whoso talents have secured for him a seat on tho Supreme Legislative Council in India. Ho is tho leading authority on the Bengal rent law, a member of the Calcutta Corporation, a Fellow of tho Calcutta University, and a loading man in many other public bodies. He was tlie nominee of the Moderates -for the Presidency of the last National Congress at Surat, which was broken up by the Mahratta extremists, headed by Hal Oangadhar Tilak (whose arrest for sedition was reported from Bombay only a day or two ago). Dr. Ghose is, of course, a strong advocate of the principle of ''Swadeshi,'' and* has established a match factory in Calcutta in accordance witJi his views. A visit which the police m-aJo to his factory in May, in accordance with the provisions of the Indian labour laws, was magnified by tlie native pros* into a search for l>ombs! If it should prove correct that this Dr. Ras Behari Ghose is tho man who has been arrested, it will give a curious interosD to a pa.-sage from his address of welcome to the delegates of the Calcutta Congress in 1900, as reported in tho Calcutta 'Englishman." "Do •■ not misread the signs cf the time.'' he said. "Do not be deluded by theories "of racial inferiority: the choice lies '• before you between a contented people : " proud to be the citizens of the great-

" est Empire the world has ever seen " and another Ireland in the East, for i am uttering no idle threat. 1 am •• not speaking at random, for I know •' something of the present temper of •' the rising generation in Bengal, peri( baps another Russia/ If the doctor is correctly reported here, it would be of interest to learn what interpretation he wished put on the last phrase, and what was the precise nature of his knowledge of the rising generation. His arrest adds another to the many disquieting incidents that havo lately been reported from India.