[Anti-Imperialism in the United States, 1898-1935, Navigation Header] Mr. Kipling's Call to America By Alfred Webb Dublin, Feb. 7, 1899 ----------------------------------------------------------------- To the Editor of The Nation: Sir: The cable informs us that "Kipling's stirring verses, the 'Call to America,' have created a profound impression" on your side. What that impression may be, we can only conjecture. They profoundly impress many of us here as first-class specimens of cant, to which one of the examples, drawn from Dryden, given by Johnson as an example of the proper use of the word cant, aptly applies: "Of promise prodigal, while pow'r you want, And preaching in the self-denying cant." There is something almost sickening in this "imperial" talk of assuming and bearing burdens for the good of others. They are never assumed or held where they are not found to be of material advantage or ministering to honor or glory. Wherever empire (I speak of the United Kingdom) is extended, and the climate suits the white man, the aborigines are, for the benefit of the white man, cleared off or held in degradation for his benefit. Where the climate does not suit us, and the natives are in too advanced a condition to be cleared off, the first consideration (at least with the majority, men of Kipling's turn of mind) is our material advantage and honor and glory. We are in a precious hurry to lay burdens down when they do not pay, as in the case of our solemn obligations to the Armenians. We are ever ready to shirk them, as in the case of the status of our Indian fellow-subjects in our colonies, when the bearing of the burden of seeing fair play done would be inconvenient. In so far as is compatible with our interests and honor and glory, we have perhaps made the interests of "natives" under our rule of higher and more enduring consideration than that recorded of any other conquering and governing Power. But this talk of burdens is, as I have said, unadulterated cant. Taking India as a test, no one moves a foot in her government that is not well paid and pensioned at her cost. No appointments are more eagerly contended for than those in the Indian service. A young man is made for life when he secures one. The tone of that service is by no means one "bound to exile," "to serve . . . captives' need," "to wait in heavy harness," or in any degree as expressed in Mr. Kipling's highfalutin lines. It is entirely the contrary: 'You are requested not to beat the servants" is a not uncommon notice in Indian hotels. The most refined and educated natives with three-fourths of British officials narrowly and not indeed always escape the appellation of "D----d niggers." Much of England's wealth is derived from the connection with India. She is one of the richest countries in the world (average income, £40 per head); India one of the poorest (average income, thirty shillings). If there were any reality in a united, equally considered empire and of the white man bearing burdens, it would be shown in relation to her. But no -- India is made to pay to the last farthing in all questions of common account. She was made to pay for the erection of that palatial India Office in Whitehall; she has had to pay for a state ball given to the Sultan of Turkey in London; she is made to pay even for the training in England of British troops sent out to govern her -- of course for their transit, maintenance, and pay in India. So anxious are we, where good pay is concerned, to save Indians the heavy burden of enjoying them, that, while our sons can study and pass at home for Indian appointments, her sons must study and pass in England; and even in India itself whites are afforded chances closed to natives. You are told to go abroad and "Fill full the mouth of famine." Within the last three years we have had the worst famine of the century in India -- some eight million perished of disease and starvation. The heroic efforts to combat it have been, with the exception of voluntary contributions, at the expense of India, and have added to her debt. It is impossible to gauge the eventual inevitably impoverishing effect upon India of the millions of pounds annually drawn from her and, under the heads of salaries, pensions, home charges, and army and navy construction, spent in Great Britain. There never was a fostered trade and revenue in more disastrous consequences to humanity than the opium trade and revenue. There never was a more grinding and debilitating tax than that on salt (it would be a criminal offence in India for a poor woman to evaporate from sea water the smallest grain of it). Upon any principle of clearing our consciences and "taking up the white man's burden," we might assume both, and none of us eat a mouthful less or enjoy a moment's less real happiness. By none have such suggestions been laughed to greater scorn than by men of the Kipling cast of mind. And what nice feeling he displays towards your future fellow-citizens -- "New-caught sullen peoples, half devil and half child," "Sloth and human folly," "Silent sullen peoples," etc. Surely you are not to be egged on to the relinquishment of all your best traditions by such impudent Pharisaical rhyming. Since 1862 you have enjoyed institutions as perfect as man has yet contrived them, let some in their application misuse and degrade them as they may. Here, through old traditions and foreign complications, each one of us is made responsible for unfairness and villainies of many kinds. You and we have each to clear ourselves from our several reproaches and work out our destinies as best we may, with all humanity and searchings of spirit. In deliberately entering upon our courses, you would jeopardize all the principles in which you lead, without possessing the traditions and experiences rendering it likely you would improve upon the methods by which we have so faultily led. Dublin, February 7, 1899. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Preferred citation: Webb, Alfred. "Mr. Kipling's Call to America." The Nation 68 (Feb. 23, 1899). http://web.syr.edu/~fjzwick/kipling/webb.html In Jim Zwick, ed., Anti-Imperialism in the United States, 1898-1935. http://web.syr.edu/~fjzwick/ail98-35.html (January 1996). ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Next]The Real "White Man's Burden", by Ernest Crosby [Back]"The White Man's Burden" and Its Critics ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Navigation Menu] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Text entered and converted to HTML for Anti-Imperialism in the United States, 1898-1935, edited by Jim Zwick, Syracuse University, fjzwick@mailbox.syr.edu. Created 1/29/96; Updated 3/12/96 Portions Copyright © 1995, 1996 Jim Zwick. All rights reserved.