The Viceroy’s Speech.

IF we could venture to offer a word of advice to the Viceroy, we would say that His Excellency had better be a little careful of general and indiscriminate compliments to all Britishers in India. In his speech at the Chelmsford Club dinner, he said that he was sure “there was no section of the British community who would dispute the proposition that here in India there could be no trace and must be no trace of racial inequality. I say we do not for a moment indulge in any notions of racial superiority or predominance.” In his latest speech, the one made by him in reply to the address presented to him by the Ahmadiya deputation, he expressed the same view even more pointedly. “You speak of British officers,” he said, “and you make certain observations with regard to their attitude towards Indians. I am not sure what is meant. If you mean British officials, then I am sure that even though it may well be that errors are sometimes committed, they are not purposely made. There may be mistakes of judgement, as will happen to all of us, but there is no suggestion that the British official is anxious to assert racial superiority over the Indian with whom he comes in contact. If you mean by British officers those who hold the King’s Commission, then again I am at a loss to understand your observations. I am brought into close contact with those at the head of military affairs here and who have particular charge of British officers in this country and I have made it my business to enquire whether or not there is any foundation for the suggestion of an assertion of racial superiority by British officers. I am assured by those who share my views and are in the best position to know that there is none.” There is not an Indian who will not rub his eyes in wonder at these observations. Does his Excellency mean that he knows more about things in India after his less than three months' stay in this country than all Indians put together, his insight is more accurate?

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