The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-29
Il INDIAN EMPIRE.
INTERESTING COMMENTS ~ AN or
SERVING TRAVELLER.

/ The Past and Future Of d GReMe G@wm&EY
and Remarkable Peopie-sEeds foos ~
the spoliasion Of F-orslgnsrs - RnsaaaM
Language Coming Enao csnsEai Use.
We have travelled more. than 2. 800
niles in India, have seen It's Rrandeak
scenery, It's largest and most interest,"
ing cities, its most fertile and some II
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 havA not seen.
The Dravidical temples of the south or
India, remarkable for their size and
elaborate decorations, best illustrated st
Tanjore and Madura, we q only Judge
by small specimens seen at Madras and
Pondicherry. The wonderful cav tenn
Piles at E1lora Ajunta and many other
places we have got a fair conception Of
from that of Elephanta. One could
spend years exploring India without ex-
hausting its layers of civilization. We
have endeavored to intelligently study,
BY observation and reading en- route,
the ethnology, sociology and theology
of the country. We have missed no OPP
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 a great deal of good, though not <
actly in the way it is popularity under
stood at home. / think I may say that
our travels in India have materially
broadened d views of Asiatic history.
Especially have we been impressed with
the spectacle of an empire Of $40, O00,-
| 600 people. Of different rNces and reli-
gions, governed by a handful Of Euro
peans, and In the main well governed,
with q large Measure of liberty, a. per.
feet protection of life and property 81 IL
provided in the most civilized countries
Of Europe and increasing means Of ed
ucation. The universities and colleges
scattered over India are turning ont an
nually Thousands Of educated natives.
It is o curious fact that the Indian who
speaks English speaks Ii 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 majority OF them IL
IL the medium of education. More than
half Of the native newspapers and peri
odicals, which are numerous and well
conducted, are printed in English.
] do not think 1t a wild prediction
that English win be essentially the Ian
guage of India q hundred years hence.
It Is curious to contemplate what will
be the political result of the education
of the Indian people. Will they be con-
tent, especially those of the Aryan race,
capable of high development, with the
shadow of q government which Is some
times driven to its wits ends with It's
own domestic problems, in o group Of
little islands ., 900 miles away? For the
present / can scarcely conceive Of d
greater calamity for India than the fail.
ure Of Great Britain to hold and govern
the country. 1t would be the signal for
anarchy, which would entail the destruc-
tion Of the people and seriously obstruct
the onward march of human progress.
India il q poor country. It's fabulous
wealth has been carried on by conquer
ors or gathered into colossal fortunes
by the few rich. The great body Of the
people are m~iserably poor. They barely
keep body and soul together and do not
store up any vital force to resist disease.
The failure OF one crop "DETAILS, wide
spread distress Tha failure of two LIN
succession means famine zor millions
The government IL doing sotmething TO
improve the conditions In the last 1--WE
years canals have been built. increasing
the area under irrigation about % per
cent How much advantage the tiller Of
the soil gets from these improvements +
do not know. The government costs too
much, and the people are taxed 70 the
limit Of endurance. The British India
civil service In called the best I'M the
world. H In nndouh&eAly 10 most ex
paasiyes Etsnoss<&11ooak 600 t$55.
s0Q0ss0 600 80 ysax. The ciyil servant
serves Ain vazi0us capacities, from d
clerk to . Iientenart governor, for 90
years. four of which are given for holt
days, and retires with q minimum PEN
sion OF Ell. 900 per alnum. The cost OF all
this M sou Of the Indian people, and
hA4CA puRCApeAbAUA1S 01A CubDUAAD LOb kk1ckN
Of o part of what ID Left.
There are grave problems I'm India
and nor TO come, and TO solve them
win require all the talent which can be
secured. It ID 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 i'm 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 In the future il they can
be properly nourished and educated.
Their bright, distinctly Aryan faces look
out appealingly through surroundings
Of squalor and superstition and give
promise Of high development under IA
vorable conditions. Indeed we see
splendid specimens OF manhood among
them today, and their graceful courtesy
shames our ruder mannera-Cor. Bos-
ton Herald.
Serving Toast.