Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-29
THE LAMENT OF INDIA
What a Visitor From Oeylon Had to Say
to a Star" Reporter.
of Amerfcans-The Ins
huence of the Englfsh-1ndia ana,
Ceylon Impoverished.

Dore William Morey. sinnah. OF Colombo.
Ceyion' was In the parlor OF the Normandie
last night. Dore is the Indian equivalent
for Mr.. and sinnah means Junior" The
gentleman has a distinctively oriental ap-
pearance, even though he was rugged out in
occidental garb. He has a fine now OF raven
coiored locks. and graceful undulating mus
tache. His complexion is very brunette, ana
mis- frame wiry. He attracts much atten-
uon as he PAGES up ana down the corridors
with an elastic gait bore Morey has G
studious cast OF countenance, ana refuses to
taik small. He is a graduate Of the Univer-
sity OF Calcutta ana talks English quite
well, besides being nuent in several other
tongues. A reporter for The Star struck up
an acquaintance with him, ana SAID: do
we know as much about India as we think
we do?" Dore Morey pulled mis- aromatic
Manila cigar out of his mouth. ana said:
Americans have a very imperfect notion OF
India Their knowledge OF our LAND is SC
little that IT is worse than dense ignorance
The American looks on India not as the
center Of the Oldest civilization, but as the
workshop OF the missionary. He roryets
that the Hindoo knows a thing or two him.
SELF ana can give the American pointers on
some things. The American who thinks
ing through red, white and blue specs. but In
on his base. The American tourist travels
for pleasure and to be able to tell his friends
on the next square that he has been there
His observations are necessarily superficial
and lop-sided. They are yalueless for the
determination of the subsisting conditions
which tend to establish the prosperity OF the
countries visited by them. This is especially
true OF India and Ceylon. All his obser-
Nations are made through the stereoscope OF
British influence. The objects which make
tne greatest impression him are those
with which he is Observation-Disclosures. hotels
ana modern social conditions When they
ger into town they proceed to hobnob with
the alleged British aristocracy, ana get the
impression that a century OF BRITISH rula
mas put a shine on India They do not think
that some thousands OF years before the
! hted States was laid out and opened up
Tor settlement India was teeming with
millions of people. and was prosperous in
the light OF its ancient civilization, ana rich
In its material resources"
England and India.
You don't mean 10 tell me-" remarked
the reporter. that the influence of the
English has not had a refining effect ana
you certainly don't mean to intimate that
India contemplates doing the lIs6 act tc-
ward BRITANNIA
IF the entire subject We're properly con-
sidered, one cannot but arrive MI the CON-
clusion that. while the tight little right nt-
tie island in the North sea has grown richer
by her manipulations in the orient. India
and Ceylon, like Ireland. Australia ana
South Africa, have failed to do So The pros
perfty OF country has for its exponent its
financial solvency ana that exponent has
for Its immediate foundation the natural
resources OF the country. which according
dDlalnnr1anfS
In what We commonly call the material
prosperity OF such a country. There is not
the shadow OF q doubt but that India ana
Ceylon are today practically irsolvent. Cey-
3.Wu.Uu Inhabitants. The present revenue
OF the island from exports of COFFEE tea
spices. cotton, &c, together with the earn
ings or the railroads. amount to about
4oUUUO rupees per annum. The expenJf-
lures average over 5o.oU.Wp rupees. ana
this deficit is made up at the expense OF
India proper. Following up this train of
thought, resume OF the conditions IN India
itself will undoubtedly exhibit parallels In
agricultural development India is not I'D to
Its past record. ana in Ceyion the rice crop
is entirely Inadequate to the needs or the
Ceylonese. IL has TO be imported from
India. As an indication OF the country in
ats present state, compare its abundant rice
nelds. Its mammoth tanks ana Irrigation
canals. which at one time supported many
millions more Of people than at present"
what about your custom OF rattening the
crocodiles on children and sending WIDOWS
up in smoker" said the reporter
The customs OF various civilizations have
to be studied from the standpoint OF that
civilization. In the case of India. the deveI-
opment OF the ancient Brahminical creeds
arose from phiiosophic theologies TO a re-
lig1on for the masses. and means had 10 be
employed TO create impressions. The spirit
which prompted moaning widows to i'm
mofate themselves on the funeral pyre. ana
certain enthusiasts 10 make a railroad
smash-up of themselves. IL the same spirit
which made Christian martyrs"
why don't We Americans get some Indian
export tradey' persisted The stars fact
hinder.
The English have even driven YOU out
OF the cotton-drill market. hicn used 10 be
a great one. They furnish inferior goods.
but they make us buy them. Your trade in
butter. which used 10 be large. failed large
ly because you persisted I'm putting the pro-
duct in tin cans. which were no good. so
that the fruit of the churn usually reached
India in rancid state and had TO be COW
cred up I'm order to keep II on the table,
We'll. between Britain ana Russia, which
do you like BEST said the reporter.
Give us Russia every tine. India would
receive her with open arms a relief from
English tmpertinence ana oppression"