GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12501, 30 March 1909, Page 1

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA.

The Rev. J. B. Burton, who has just visited India, on his return to Melbourne had. some pleasant things to say about British rule in India, When hp saw, he remarks, the magnificent of men of his own race, the firmness yet kindliness with which they ruled, he admired British pluck as he had never admired it before. British rule. in India, he said, stood for something that was high and noble. Famine, owing to jt, was a thing of the past;rthe spread of education was amazing, and the majority of the people recognised That it was only under the rule Of Britain was it possible to hold India together. In this tribute Mr Burton is at one with ex- . President Rtfosevelt, who ,in a recent speech, paid high praise ■to the ' achievements «f Great Britain in ' governing the empire of India. '.'ln India we encounter jshe most colossal ! example history affords of the most successful administration by men of '. European blood of a thickly-popula-ted region in another Continent," said the ex-President. "It is the greatest " feat of the kind" that has ever been performed since the break-up of the I Roman Empire. Indeed, .it is a greater feat than was performed under the Roman Empire. UnquesI' tionably mistakes have been made ; it 'I would indicate, qualities literally superhuman if so gigantic a task had been accomplished without mistakes. n I It is easy enough to point out short3 ' ! comings; but the a fact remains that l " the successful administration of the w Indian Empire by the English has r I been one of the most notable and Lt most admirable achievements of tha r " . white race during the past two centuries. On the whole it has been for s ~ the immeasurable ■ benefit of the na- *' tives of India themselves." r- a