"WORSE THAN RUSSIA."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 7

"WORSE THAN RUSSIA."

ALLEGED ATROCITIES. A LABOUR MEMBER lk INDIA. EXCITED CROWDS. [nv telegram/ — rr.Ess absolution.] Calcutta, October 1. Chowhurry, a Bengal barrister and a leading Swadeshi agitator, accompanies Mr. Kcir Bardie, Labour membor of tho Houso of Commons, during the latter's visit to India. Crowds gavo an ovation to Mr. Hardie. Bengal newspapers publish interviews. They assort that Mr. Hardie declares "that the condition of the country is worse than that of Russia, and accuses officials of atrocities. Native agitators feted Mr. Kcir Hardie in Eastern Bengal. Speaking at one gathering, Mr. Keir Hardio advocated a gbverning system like that of Canada for India. AN ANOMALY. DISTINCTION ACCORDING TO COLOUR. HEAVEN-SENT CHAMPION. (Received October, 10.53 p.m.) • London, October 2. Tho "Daily Mail" asks how can Mr. Morley (Secretary for India), justly punish Indian editors and agitators if-Mr. Keir Hardie's more serious' speeches are overlooked. Tho "Times" condemns Mr. Hardie's criminal recklessness in fostering Indian sedition. Bengal newspapers' declare that the people aro delirious with joy over Mr. Hardie's advent, ' and hail him as heaven-sent in order to demolish "the gigantic conspiracy, against the Hindus." Anglo-Indian journals condemn Mr ■ Hardie's tour as being very mischievous in its effects. BRITISH RULE IN INDIA. A VINDICATION. ' ' At a time when a certain class of British politicians are engaged in trying to disparage British .rule in India, it may not be without interest (says the "Times") to quote the substance of a speech lately delivered at- tho Twentieth. Century Club in Boston by Mr.- Niels Gron, a Dano, N and a graduate of Harvard University., who spent last winter in India as a student of international affairs. Mr. 'Gron attended the Indian National Congress in Calcutta, and when 12,000 Hindus stood up in tho hall on .December 26 last and sang the " Bande Mataram," ho was, he confessed, thrilled with intense excitement. Upon tho platform and directly in front of and beneath it sat 2000 men assembled from all over India—Maharajahs and Rajahs, representatives of anciont houses, elected members of legislative councils or municipalities, professors, doctors, merchants, and traders, journalists and lawyers, and these surrounded by 10,000 people from the masses, and from all, as 'if it wore but one' soul, there seemed to spring tho cry for freedom. But the thrill was short lived, for tho first few opening speeches at tho Indian National Congress clearly showed that it was not the freedom of the Indian people which was tho aim, but political positions of the individual members of tho Congress. Not a .speech during the whole Congress brought forth a single throb that sprang from the heart, of a patriot, but every sentence rang with the ambitious demands of tho political office-seeker.

The spirit of tho Congress resembled that which prevails in Washington directly after a Presidential inauguration,' when office-seekers from all over tho union swarm in the capital—with this difference, however, that the American office-seeker has usually rendered some service to the party he petitions, whereas the Indian aspirant owes all he is and has to tho Government ho denounces. Tho adage that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing has boon exemplified' by tho Indian National Congress. the supporters ;of which, through the education they have received, now endanger rather than further tho peaceful progress of civilisation.

Though Mr. Gron wont to India prejudiced against the Britons by what he had heard regarding British extortion and cruel treatment of tho natives, he had not been thoro many weeks bofore his prejudices had been changed into frank admiration for a people that had accomplished such 'results as had been attained in India during tho comparatively short period of 200 years. Let any man become acquainted with the conditions _in India two conturies ago and then'go thero now and seo the present state of affairs, and he could' but agree that thero was nothing of which the Anglo-Sax'on race could be as proud as the establishment and maintenance of practically absolute justice throughout the whole of India by the British. It wa3 the operation of this principle of justice that was the foundation of British strength in India. /

"On TiVhrnivry 2 last," said Mr. 'Ron, " I had a- spccial opportunity of comparing tne disloyalty of the educated class with the absolute devotion of tlio mastics toward their protectors and rulers. At eight o'clock in the morning that day I took a train at Delhi station in company with the Principal and four other professors and fifteen students of the upper class of one of the colleges of Delhi. We went novth toward Lahore to the station ofNangloi. Thero wo left the train and walked two and a half miles through the fields to a village called Moodka, .containing about 1500 Hindus and 300 Mohammedan farmers. Wo at once took possession of the Chaupal (village, hall), and there the discussions which had started immediately upon leaving Delhi, continued for a conniderable time. The professors and students wore unanimous in denouncing the British rule, though to it they owed all the advantages they had had and'worn then enjoying, but they were careful to speak in English, for none of tliem dared to dcnounco the British to those villagers. There were two other Europeans besides myself, and the threo of us were taken for Britishers, and on that account had courtesy and kindness showered upon us. Wo we.ro taken all over the villare, into their houses, and their friendliness clearly showed that they would have spared nothing for my protection, because they thought I was British.

" On the return to Delhi that evening the professors and students wero less enthusiastic with regard to what results might bo expectod from tho efforts of their favourite political agitators,' for I had pointed out, and I think with somo success, that tho masses of the people in India realised that their safety, in fact, their entire well-being, depends upon tho continuation'-of British rulo."