The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-21
THE INDIAN EMPIRE.
INTERESTING COMMENTS BY AN OBJ
SERVING TRAVELLER.

The faSt ana futurc OF Great Country
and Remarkable Poople-Brado Poor by
tho spoiintion of Foreigners English
Language Coming Into General Use.
We have travelled more than 1850
miles in India, have seen its grandest
scenery, its largest and most interest
ing cities, its 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 Dravidical temples of the south OF
India, remarkable for their size and
elaborate decorations, best illustrated al
Tanjore and Madura, we can only judge
by small specimens seen at Madras and
Pondicherry. The 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 OK
hausting its layers of civilization. We
have underworld to inteiligently study,
hy observation and reading en- route,
the ethnology, sociology and theology
of the country. We have missed no op.
portunity to talk with British officiaA
and educated natives. We have looked
into the work of the missionaries and
come to tho conclusion that they are do
ing % great deal Of good, though not ex-
actly i'll the way it is popularity under
stood at home. think I may say that
our travels in India have materially
<xf -
Especially have we been impressed with
the spectacle Of an empire of 240 000,
600 people of different races and 'reli-
gions, governed by handful of Euro
peans and in the main we'll governed,
with a large 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 ed
ucation. The universities and colleges
scattered over India are turning out an
nuelly thousands of educated natives.
1t is a curious fact that the Indian who
speaks English speaks it 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 it
is tho 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 it wild prediction
that English will be essentially the Ian
guage OF India hundred years hence.
1t 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 it's wits ends with its
own domestic problems, in q group Of
little islands 5000 miles away? For the
present l can scarcely conceive Of
greater calamity for India than the fail
ure Of Greet Britain to hold and govern
tho county. 1t would be the signal for
anarchy, which would entail the destruc-
tion Of tho people and seriously obstruct
the onward march Of human progress.
India is q poor country. Its fabulous
wealth has been carried off by conquer
ors or gathered into colossal fortunes
by the few rich. The great body of the
people arc laiscrably poor. They barely
keep body and soul together and do not
store up any vital force to resist disease.
The failure Of one crop entails wide
spread distress. The failure Of two in
succession means famine for millions.
The government is doing something to
Improve the conditions. In the last five
years canals have been built, increasing
the area under irrigation about % per
cent. How much advantage the tiller 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 OK
pensive. 1t costs 911, 900, 600 $685.
900, 000) q year. The civil servant
serves in various capacities, from
clerk to lieutenant governor, for 25
years, four of which are given for holt
days. and retires with a minimum pen
sion of 81, 900 per annum. The cost of all
this comes out of the Indian people, and
their superstitions and customs rob them
Of a part of what is left.
There are grave problems in India
and more to come, and to solve them
will require ALI the talent which can ba
secured. 1t is doubtful whether the mer-
chants Of London, tho 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 in 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
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 manners. Cor. Bos-
ton Herald.>