Tu approach of the General Election laud has naturally inorensed ity of the native Reform Asso-And at the same time more than one Indian candidate lias appealed lo constituencies for their suffrages. Indian questions are now more brought to the notice of the electorate than at any previous time, and although it is very aulikely that the lower sections of the voters know or care anything about the East, it may be taken for granted that can didates would not dwell on Indian topics unless they believed that it was, to their interest to do so, The time is also favourable to the discussion if not to the settlement of the reforms or grievances which Indian politicians are pressing on the attention of people ab home, The national conscience has been pricked by the condition of some of our domestic affairs, and is sensitive on those of a more extraneous nature, Public questions, particularly those affecting the condition of working and labouring people, are vow viewed by public men, and the greater part of the electorate, with more kindliness than was formerly the case, There is a sacrificing! feeling abroad; a desire to expend lime, and labour, and possessions, to ameliorate the condition of the poorer classes, which, although it has long figured in the politico! programmes of extreme politicians, seems now likely to be brought to some extent within the range of practical legislation, very now and then the contrast between the wealth enjoyed and the panary suffered by different classes at home has awakened sympathetic public moves ments; but the large infusion of demo. cracy, if not its predominance in our electorate, us Intely given an ims mongo impetus to political schemes in which there is something of socialism. These are still in a erade condition; bat moulded by experienced statesmen there is little doubt thy will result in beneficial legislation, In this temper of th st active politionl section at home, it is only what might be expected that Indian affairs, especially the con. dition of the peuple, should at the same time attract attontic During the Viceroyalty of Lord Ripon the Bill for the extension of the powers of the native magistracy and the Tenants Bill were much discussed wt home, TheIndian Political Assovintions promptly seized the opportunity, and des patched to England a Onleutta baboo of great volubilily, who was taken in hand by some radical Associations, whose extreme opinions on purely home affairs ho adopted. He has bren sue. ceeded by others of the same alnes, who are aspirants for seata in the House of Commons; and a meeting of the Bumbay Presidency Association has recently been held to support the efforts that ate now making to interest the electors of England in Indian Affaire, The Bombay mooting consisted of natives of standing, several of whom are known by reputation outside of India, and we have no doubt was fairly represeutativevf educated opinion. The general tenor of the speech of the Hon, Mr, Naoroji, the principal speaker, was that the condition of the country made the present expenditure oppressive, and therefure the proposed increase in the army and defences would inflict grave hardship on the people. The forward policy in Afghan
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.