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vol. title: Vol Four of The Theosophical Society of The Arya Samaj of Arya-wart vol. period: Sept 1878 – Sept 1879 pages in vol.: 350 |
Mr. Robert Knight and the Statesman
Who has not heard of Robert Knight the veteran journalist and the fearless reformer? Not to know Robert Knight is to argue one’s self unknown. This gentleman is, so to say, the father of journalism considered in its highest and best sense. He knows the natives, and the natives have learnt to understand the peculiar ways and thoughts of one who, whatever his shortcomings, has ever enthusiastically written and spoken of Indian questions, when these were being ignored and thrust aside by the Parliament of Great Britain and the Viceroy at Simla. For twenty five years he has fought manfully against those in authority. He has directed the experience of a quarter of a century into but one channel, the advocacy of an impartial Government and the acknowledgements of the rights of the Indian people. What advocate, for instance, had the poor abused people of India in the dark days of the Mutiny, but Knight? Who was he, that said a word for them, when the Bombay Times overflowed with the venom of Dr. Buist’s pen? Mr. Knight has also rendered valuable service to Bengal. He was one of the first to take up the cause of the helpless ryot and expose the Indigo Planters in their true colours. Mr. Knight has been of the greatest value to India, however, on financial questions, where he has allowed his abilities to have full play; and there does not exist a greater authority on Indian financial questions than the Editor of the Calcutta Statesman.
Speaking of the Statesman we cannot refrain from giving a few reasons for that journal’s notoriety or success. Mr. Knight has ever preferred to call things by their right names. He has never cared for the wrath of Achilles, for he knows that Achilles fighting for untruth is Achilles deprived of his best armour. There are people who assert that Napoleon Bounaparte never existed; and there are, of the same class, a few, who would pursuade us to believe that the Statesman is an obscure paper, full of disloyalty and rancour. When we see that it is the gods at Simla that say this, we hesitate to put faith in their words. Mr. Knight may well afford to laugh at such insinuations.
Mr. Knight has discovered, however, that “when the Government of India was transferred from the Court of Directors to the Crown, it was inevitable that, sooner or later, the initiative in policy and legislation should also be changed from Calcutta to London. The effects of this transfer are, that the authorities in India are relieved from responsibility to even such feeble public opinion as there exists; while from the ignorance and indifference that prevail, at home, the Indian Government in London becomes more despotic than ever. A Government which rules India from Calcutta cannot entirely close its eyes and ears to the effect of its measures upon the people; but an irresponsible Buruecracy attempting to govern India from Downingstreet legislates in the dark. It can know nothing of the wants of the people, except what is to be gathered from official reports, prepared so as to suit its wishes. The only way to correct the evil, is to raise up in England an enlightened interest in India, by making known from free and unbiassed sources of information, the veritable state of the country and the character of the administration. In order to do this effectually, it is essential that the London journal should have its roots in India. For Western ideas are a solvent of tremendous power; and under their influence India is changing with a rapidity which must be watched to be understood. It results from this, that an English journal desiring to disseminate the truth regarding India,must obtain its informations fresh, and fresh from writers in immediate contact with the facts, convictions, wishes, and aspirations which they delineate. By the establishment of a London Statesman, in direct connection with the Statesman in Calcutta, this object will be accomplished.”
These are noble aims,and we desire the speedy advent of the London Statesman.
Origin, Progress and Destiny of the English Language and Literature*
Dr. Weisse’s new book has afforded us an opportunity to make ourselves familiar with the origin, progress and destiny of the English language and literature. It has given us great pleasure. It is a book of books. Full of profound research and erudition, it will live long as a monument of the author’s industry and talents. It is full of broad sympathy for mankind, so far, at least, as the English speaking millions are concerned, and in this sympathetic spirit the volume is dedicated to no great man, who has achieved for himself some reputation by his genious or by his money, but to the English speaking populations of Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Oceana. Dr. Weisse’s book should be known wherever the English language is spoken.
Dr. Weisse has adopted a new method of analyzing the English language. He starts with the Fifth Century and comes up to the Nineteenth, in fact up to the year 1878. By this method we are given a glimpse of not only the language of England, but also of the people who speak it. The usefulness of this mode<... continues on page 8-196 >
* Origine, Progress and Destiny of the English Language and Literature. By John A. Weisse. M. D. New York: J. W. Boulton, 706 Broadway 1879.
Editor's notes