The Lake Charles echo., 1894-06-01
THE INDIAN EMPIRE.
INTERESTING COMMENTS BY AN OBJ
SERVING TRAVELLER

The Past aud Future Of Great Country
and Remarkable People, Made Poor by
the spoliatlon Of Foreigners English
Language Coming Into General Use.
We have travelled moro than 2, 500
miles in India, have seen its grandest
scenery, its largest and most interest
ing cities, it's most fertile and some Of
its desert regions. Wo have found in
Delhi, Agra, Eenarcs, Ambur and All
madabad the best examples Of Hindoo
and Mohammedan architecture. OF
course there IL much we have not seen.
Tho Dravidioal temples OF the south OF
India, remarkable for their size and
elaborate decorations, best illustrated Mt
Tanjoro and Madura, wo can only judge
by small specimens seen Mt Madras and
POndieherry. Tho wonderful cave tenn
pies at Ellora, Ajunta and many other
places we have got fair conception of
from that of Elephanta. One could
spend years exploring India without cx-
hausting its layers of civilization We
have ondeavored to intelligently study,
by observation and reading en- route,
tho 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 tho work Of the missionaries and
come to the conclusion that they are do
ing u great deal of good, though not OK
uctly in the way it is popularity under
stood at home think 1 may say that
our travels in India havo materially
broadened our views of Asiatic history
Especially have we been impressed with
tho spectacle of an empire Of 240, O0O,-
900 people of different raoea and Teli-
gions, governed by handful Of Euro
peans, and in tho main woll governed
with large measure of liberty, rs per-
feet protection of life and property as II
provided in tho most civilized countries
of Europe and increasing means Of cd
ucation Tho universities and colleges
scattered over India arc turning out am
nually thousands of educated natives,
1t is curioua fact that the Indian who
speaks English speaks 1t without accent
and rather better than the average Of
English or Americans Nearly all of tho
schools above the primary grade teach
English, and in the majority Of them 1t
Is tho medium Of education. More than
half of the native newspapers and peri
odiealH, which arc numerous and well
conducted, arc printed in English.
do not think it wild prediction
that English win be essentially tho Ian
guago of India hundred years hence,
| 1t IL curious to contemplate what will
bO tho political result of tho education
of tho Indian people, win they be CON
tent, especially those Of the Aryan race,
capable of high development, with the
shadow of government which is some-
times driven to its wits ends with its
own domestic problems, in group OF
littlo islands 3, 900 miles awayf For the
present l can scarcely conceive of q
greater calamity for India than tho fail
uro of Great Britain to hold and govern
the country. 1t would be the signal fol
anarchy, which would entail tho dostruG
tion of the people and seriously ohstruot
tho onward march of human progress,
India Is poor country. Its fabulous
wealth has heon carried off by conquer
ors or gathered into colossal fortunes
by the few rich. Tho great body OF thu
people are misGrably poor They barely
keep body and soul together and do no
store up any vital force to resist disease
The failure of ono crop entails wide
spread distress. Tho failure Of two II
succession means famine for millions
Tho government Is doing something II
improve the conditions IN the last ttvl
yuars canals have been built, increasing
tho area under irrigation about 80 pc
cent, How much advantage the tiller o
the soil gets from these improvements
do not know Tho government costs to
much, aud tho people are taxed to tn
limit of endurance. Tho British mdi
civil service 10 called the best In tn
world. II h undoubtedly tho most Oh
pensiVe, II costs al 900, 600 ($b6,
600, O0O) o year The civil servan
serves in various capacities, from
clerk to q lieutenant governor, for 2
years, four Of which arc given for holi
days, and retires with minimum pei
sion Of 4 /, 900 per annum, The cost OF Al
this comes out Of the Indian people, All
their supeFstitionH aud customs rob theI
Of q part af what Is left
There are grave problems IN lndi
, and more to come, aud to solve thei
} will require all tho talent which can |
, secured, II ID doubtful whether the me-
chants of London, the manufacturers {
/ Manchester on tho hereditary aristolra
! who arc sent to hold vice regal courts
! Calcutta will solve them in the inteTe
Of the people Of India, who are tnda
! about the poorest fed, clothed az
: housed people on earth, yot ! eannl
but think that these people are capah
! Of great things IN tho future II they Ga
| be properly nourished and cdueate'
! gheIg bright, distinctly ATyan faces lof
i out appealingly through surroundinl
Of squalar and superstition aud gi'
promise Of high development under I
= yorabla conditions, Indeed We s.
!, splendid specimens Of manhood amqI
4 them today, and their graceful eaurte
shamas our rndeF manners --pq- p
! ton Herald,
n