637
INTRODUCTION.
It is a point of British law that evidence must be produced before the accused can be found guilty. Charges without proof are not sufficient to condemn, yet the most atrocious and wicked accusations have been made against the Hindustanis in Canada by certain unscrupulous politicians and writers, who seem anxious to force the Canadian public to swal- low all their ridiculous statements without proof. It is even evident to the Canada India Committee that there is an organized effort to prevent the truth from becoming known.
Our object in writing the East Indians' case is to give the facts in readable form and in as few words as possible. The Canada India Committee are able and ready to prove every statement they make. The facts are being carefully investigated, and many astounding circumstances and irregularities are already thoroughly well known to them, all of which we hope will be made public in due time. That there should be discrimination in peopling this great land is evident, but let our discrimina- tion be based on facts, not libels; on justice, not prejudice.
new
We appeal to the thoughtful people of Canada not to ignore the cry of fellow British subjects for simple human rights. A national life based on the loftiest political ideals yet expressed. is pulsating through our Eastern Empire. The greatest minds of Britain are eagerly watching its birth throes. Canada, the land of opportunity, has every- thing to gain and nothing to lose by being kind to her elder sister-land-old in wisdom, but young in nationhood.
Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacher- ously every man against his brother?-
Malachi 2, verse 10.
2
!
STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND.
In the fall of 1905 a group of 20 men dressed in full flowing white garments and wearing colored turbans, set foot on Canadian soil.
It was
a cold reception they received. Leaving the land of warmth and sunshine, where hospitality is a part of its very life and creed, they naturally looked for the sympa- thetic hand of welcome, but were disap- pointed.
Long centuries of striving after good had, however, developed a courage which is hard to equal, go where you will, outside of India. They were brothers, and, as brothers should, they held together. What else could they do? Only two of the number could speak the language of this new country. They did not come as beggars, but sought what every man seeks and has a right to receive-honest employment. for which he would receive a sus- taining wage. These Hindus came not to destroy, but to build; not as wage smashers, but as brothers working together for the good of the common brotherhood of man.
Their difficulties were increased by their inability to get even a place to lay their heads, but this was not different to the Great Master, Jesus Christ, who said: "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have their nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." They must have experienced many aching heads before they finally overcame the cold indifference and what is worse, the cruel intolerance that they encountered. One day the employer of a sawmill in Vancouver, B.C.. gave employment to five of their number. So well pleased was he that he took others on, and set rolling his good opinion of these hard- working and thirfty East Indians. Farmers also tried them, and found them excellent men for handling cattle, chicken raising, and mixed farming.
In course of time they were able to save enough money to buy some land in Fairview, Vancouver, B.C.. and build a Meeting House, where they could gather for intercourse and instruction after their day's work was done. In the meantime they had written home to India, speaking in glowing terms of this fair land of ours, telling the folk at home that here was liberty for the subject and a land where
3
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.