The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-12
THE INDIAN EMPIRE.
INTERESTING COMMENTS BY AN OBJ
SERVING TRAVELLER.

ohu hcIhnrRoDlc HeOplC-Atnuc Poor by
tho spoliation of Foreigners = English
Language Coming Into General Use.
Wo have travelled mora than 3, 900
miles In India, have seen its grandest
scenery, it's largest and most interest
ing cities, it's most fertile and some of
its desert regions. We have found In
Delhi, Agra, Benares, Ambur and All
madabad the best examples of Hindoo
and Mohammedan architecture. Of
course there is much we have not seen.
The Drayidical temples of tho south of
India, remarkable for their size and
elaborate decorations, best illustrated at
Tanjore and Madrra, we can only Judge
by small specimens seen ut Madras and
Pondiohe1ry Tho wonderful cave tenn
pies mt Ellora, Ajunta and many other
places we have got fair conception of
from that of Elephanta One could
spend years exploring India without ex-
hausting its layers of civilization We
have endeayored to intelligently study,
By observation and reading en- route,
the ethnology, sociology and theology
Of the country. We have missed no op-
portunity to talk with British officials
and educated natives. We have looked
into the work of the missionaries and
come to the conclusion that they are do
ing great deal of good, though not ex-
actly i'll the way it is popularity under
stood ut home / think I may say that
our travels in India have materially
broadencd our views Of Asiatic history.
Especially have we been impressed with
the spectacle Of an empire of 240, OOO,
600 people of different races and reli-
gions, governed by IL handful Of Euro
peans, and In the main we'll governed,
With largo measure of liberty, as per-
feet protection of life and property as is
provided In the most civilized countries
OF Europe and increasing means Of cd
ucation The universities and colleges
scattered over India are turning out an
nually thousands of educated natives
1t is curious fact that the Indian who
speaks English speaks 1t without accent
and rather better than the average of
English or Americans Nearly all Of the
schools above the primary grade teach
English, and in the mujority of them it
is tho medium Of education More than
huff Of tho native newspapers and peri
odicals, which arc humorous and we'll
conducted. arc printed in English.
do not think 1t wild prediction
that English will be essentially the Ian
guago Of India "a hundred years hence.
1t is curious to contemplate what will
BIO the political result of tho education
of the Indian people VIII they be con-
tent, especially those of tho Arynn race,
capable of high development, with the
shadow of a government which is some
times driven to it's wits ends with its
own domestic problems In group of
littlo islands 5000 miles away? For the
present l can scarcely conceive of
greater calamity for India than tho fail
urc of Great Britain to hold and govern
the country. 1t would be tho signal for
anarchy, which would entail the dest1uc-
ton of the people and seriously obstruct
the onward march of human progress.
India IS poor country. It's fabulous
wealth has been carried off by conquer
ors or gathered into colossal fortunes
by the few rich. Tho great body of the
people are miscrably poor. They barely
keep body and soul together and do not
store up any vital force to resist disease
Tho failure Of one crop entails wide
spread distress. The failure of two in
succession means famine for millions.
Tho government is doing something to
improve the conditions In the last five
years canals have been built, increasing
the area under irrigation about 25 per
cent How much advantage the tillcr of
tho soil gets from these improvements /
do not know. The government costs too
much, and the people are taxed to the
limit of endurance. The British India
civil service is called the best in the
world 1t IS undoubtedly the most en-
pensivc- 1t costs Gil, 1000, 900 $3.50
900, 000) Il year. The civil servant
serves in various capacities, from q
clerk to II lieutenant governor, for 25
years, four of which are given for holi-
days, and retires with minimum pen
sion of 81 900 per annun The cost of all
this comes out of the Indian people, and
their superstitions and customs rob them
of part of what is left.
There are grave problems in India
and more to come, and to solve them
will require all the talent which can be
secured. 1t is doubtful whether the mer-
chants of London, the manufacturers of
Manchester Or the hereditary aristocrats
who are sent to hold vice regal courts in
Calcutta will solve them in the interest
of the people of India, who are today
about the poorest fed, clothed and
housed people on earth. Yet cannot
but think that these people are capable
of great things III the future if they can
be properly nourished and educated.
Their bright, distinctly Aryan faces look
out appealingly through surroundings
of squalor and superstition and give
nr0miSn of high dnynlOnmnnt 11ndar 60