The Government of Action and The Government of Show
In India we know very well the danger of fuss; of making the show the primary object of our movements. Indeed, we have always objected to the policy of holding a public meeting and then proclaiming by telegraphic message that "great enthusiasm prevailed at the monster gathering." This method of making mountain of mole-hill has ruined us. The government does not now listen to the prayers of a really "a monster and enthusiastic," meeting. This, because they have found out that they had often been sought to be humbugged, and now they do not believe when the real wolf is announced. The Congress was ruined, because it made a noise beyond its strength, and by that created unnecessary alarm and powerful opponents. Our policy lies in making ourselves really strong, and not to make a show of strength we do not possess. And the government of India adopts a false policy when it tries to impress upon the world that it is all right in India without first making itself sure whether actually it is so or not.
And is it not possible to deceive the world by this method? Some of our political agitators sought to decieve the world by this method? Some of our political agitators sought to deceive the Government by glowing accounts of their public meetings, but they did not deceive the government. In the same manner, the world is not likely to be deceived by sending the regiment or two abroad composed of troops of the Indian Princes. The world has already formed an opinion on this subject, which is not likely to be removed by a mere show.
The democratic candidate for Presidentship in the United States, Mr. Bryan, published an article in the New York Journal on the 23rd September in which "he warns the expansionists that they are following the course of England in India. He points to the Sepoy war and misgovernment in India, as examples of imperialism, and strongly intimates that that is the policy which will eventually ruin America." Thus now the most prominent citizen in America takes the misgovernment in India for granted and finds his theories upon it.
It may be said that Mr. Bryan wrote for election purposes. But his opponents, the Republicans, noticed and criticized his sentiments. They did not deny the allegation of the misgovernment in India; on the other hand they accepted it as an established fact but they contended that it was not possible for America to follow British method. Thus the Inter Ocean, a Republican paper and a bitter opponent of Mr. Bryan, says in reference to the article of Mr. Bryan: --
But why should Mr. Bryan point Americans to India for illustration of the possibilities of our governmental system? Why not point to Florida, Texas, Utah, Oregon, and California? Why not point to Porto Rico, Hawaii, and Cuba? Why not exhibit some pride in American institutions, by admitting that the American system is better than the English for any kind of people? Why not confess that Warren Hastings and his system in India in no way resemble or suggest the personal or the administrative machinery of modern civilization, to say nothing of American civilization?
So there is no chance of impressing the Americans with the fact of our unity and loyalty; they have decided opinions on the point. Nor it will be possible to do it in regard to the French, for they are prejudiced against England. But the object of the Indian Government is not to impress the Americans nor even the French, but the Russians. The object of the Indian Government is to shew to the Russians they have no chance against united and loyal India...
From The Amrita Bazar Patrika. Tuesday November 6, 1900. Page 4.