Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-10
NE RsAHMAns OF INDIA
Tho High Caste People of the Ganges
Now lave to Work for a Living.

Tho High Caste People of the Ganges
Now Have to Work for a Living.
The thing that surprises me more and
more every day and month am in India is
she marvellous progress Christianity has
made and the rapidity and length of the
strides it is now making. 1t is impossible
to understand the progress of Christianity
in India by studying the missionary re-
ports of the various societies or by looking
over the census returns of the government
One must be here on the ground, go in and
out among the people, compare the habits
and customs of today with those of fifty
years ago. One must take into account
the present state of Hinduism, especially
in the upper classes, with what it was 80
or 100 years ago.
Let me, then, begin with the altered
faith of Hindooism under the influence of
Christianity. One hundred years ago Hin
dooism was solid. There were practically
no schisms in its vast body The schools
OF the Brahmans were crowded; the tenn
pies were hourishing; the rites and cere-
monies OF their system were practiced uni
versally by the great as well as the small,
the rich as well as the poor The Brahman
reigned supreme everywhere, the spiritual
lords of all the people. Widows were be-
ing burned in the name of HindooisIn, and
the rite was considered one of the most sa-
cred and most pleasing to the gods
Religious suicide in dozen forms was
encouraged and practiced. All over India
men We're burying themselves alive, drown
ing themselves in the sacred rivers, starry
ing themselves to death and in many other
ways offering themselves in religious self
sacrifice. Child murder was the common
TAr.a nj ali l.! II
der of girl babies, The rites of JagCanath
were in full force, and though not as com
monty as is popularity supposed, vet it was
true that religious devotees did cast them
selves under the wheels of the cruel car,
and they were encouraged and applauded
for it. This has ceased out of the land
The cruel rites of the ascetics were every
where practiced.
Men were found hanging head downward
from the limbs of trees, lying in beds of
iron spikes, torturing and decorating them
selves in Il hundred ways all in the name
of the gods, with the encouragement of
the priests and in entire harmony with the
universal faith of the Hindoo The thug
practiced his profession under the patron
age of the gods, and the thief caste was
recognized as really as any other caste.
The caste restrictions OF India TODAY are
no more what they We're fifty years ago
than the relation of the English aristocracy
is the same to the commons today as it
was in the days of the Norman supremacy.
Fifty years ago or little earlier the gates
of the cities and towns were closed at 5 in
the evening and not opened again till the
next morning, and the low caste people
excluded lest the shadow OF some low caste
man under the slant rays of the sun should
fall upon some passing Brahman and so
defile him. Today the low caste boy. even
the son of n sweeper (the very lowest of
the low castes), and the son Of the Brahman
sit together in the same sChoolroom and
engage with each other in the common
sports of the school or college
The railway trains are crowded with
thousands Of men Of all castles and no
caste, and no thought Is taken of it.
whereas ut the time Of the introduction of
the railway system into India separate
carriages had TO be provided for the differ
ent castles. \ hundred years ago the
Brahmau was The protected and privileged
caste. He did no work, followed no occu-
patton, except to receive the gifts and
offerings OF the people. He was not only a
favored man AMI entirely supported by the
people, but he was a god and must needs
common thing for men of other castles to
PROSTATE themselves on the ground and
openly worship a Brahman. Now Sir
Brahman has ceased both to be god and
supported nan, except in the compare
lively few cases where he is still the guru,
or household teacher, or priest actually
serving in temple.
Brahmans today have to work for their
living like other peOBle and are by hmm
dreds and thousands performing the small
est offices in the employ Of the government
and private business establishments on
salaries ranging from six dollars to twenty
five dollars a month, and count themselves
happy If they can secure such positions.
Moreover they have to compete for their
bread with the boys and men of the lower
and even the lowest castles who come up
from school and college as well as they and
demand mp!oyment.-Cor. New York In
dependent.