OPINIONS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 189, 30 August 1888, Page 2

OPINIONS.

“ Opinions may be worn on both sides like a leather jerkin.” [CONTRIBUTED.] DRUM AND TRUMPET. The popular desire to take a larger share in the Government of India than is permitted at present, is the latest phase of publio movements in that interesting portion of the British Empire. And this time it is the ex* pressed wish of the people to be allowed to share very largely in the military defence* of the country. The employment of Indian troops ten years since or so, in Malta and Egypt, also by the visit of the Indian soldiers to England, and the attention there bestowed upon them, has fostered the natural inclination of the people to step more and more to the front. The Russian aggression* on the northern frontier in 1885-86 gave the movement a vast impulse. Within the few last passed months of this year no fewer than nine leading rulers of as many native provinces have offered more than a million of money together with nigh four hundred thousand trained and disciplined soldiers to the British Viceroy, to be used by him as he thinks fit. Whilst a corresponding movement has taken place in our own provinces, Russian aggression has called forth thia grand burst of patriotism. On the question, "Which shall we serve, the Russian or the English ?" the present aspect of this affair is most unmistakeable. India has for ages past been accustomed to dread barbarian inoursions from the north, and the old fear is now thoroughly aroused. The arming of the Indian people is a formidable factor, and since the experiences of the last mutiny, the population of the British provinces have been promptly and completely disarmed. At lhe same time the native Indian Press is a fertile disseminator of discontent—also amongst the various castes, all its utterances are in the direction of a Home rule. BRITTANIA BULBS THE MAIN! Anent this, what says the “ Thunderer ” I The public will not hesitate to draw from the oontroversy now beiog carried on in the columns of that mighty organ, concerning the possibilities of the invasion of Britain, the Unwelcome conclusion that 11 we are far from being well served by our naval and military authorities." These warrior.gentlemen have failed not only to construct a coherent and intelligible policy of national defence, in unison and harmony with the other and kindred departments, but are in fact in hopeless disagreement with each other. The French Government have shown how England’s supplies of food might be prevented, They declared rice to be contraband of war during their etruggle in Tonquin, and the same process would be adopted towards England, in the case of wheat, were the occasion to arise. So that to sweep the seas of the English fleet, and at the same time to carry out an invasion of the same country Involves a question of superfluous action on the part of the enemy. At thia distance, the unwelcome interference comes upon one pretty sharply, that in England there is much lamentable incompetence, and confusion, generally the prelude to J disaster,