Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-07-10
THE INDIAN EAllRE.
INTERESTING coMMENTS BY IN oE.
SERVING TRAVELLER.

The Fast and Future OF Great Country
and Remarkable People Mndo Poor by
tho spOliatiOn Of Forcigncrs English
Language Coming Into Gcncrni Use.
Wo havo travelled moro than 2, 500
miles in India, have seen its grandost
scenery, its largest and most interest
ing cities, its most fertile and some Of
its desert regions We have found in
Delhi, Agra, Bcnaros, Ambur and All
madabad tho best examples Of Hindoo
and Mohammodan architecture OF
course thore is much we have not seen.
The Dravidical temples Of tho south Of
India, remarkable for their size and
elaborate decorations, best illustrated at
Tanjoro and Madurn, wo can only judge
by small specimens seen at Madras and
Pondicherry. Tho wonderful cave tenn
Piles at Ellora, Ajunta and many other
places we have got fair conception of
from that of Elophanta. One could
spend years exploring India without cx.
hausting its layers Of civilization. We
have endoayored to intelligently study,
by observation and reading ON route,
tho 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 tho work Of the missionaries and
como TO the conclusion that they are do
ing great deal of good, though not ex-
actly 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, 900, =
| 600 people Of different races and reli-
| gions, governed by handful Of Euro
peans, and in tho main we'll governed,
with large measure Of liberty, as per-
feet protection of life and property as is
! provided in tho most civilized countries
of Europe and increasing means Of cd
ucation. The universities and colleges
scattered over India arc turning ont an
nually thousands Of educated natives
1t is q curious fact that tho Indian who
speaks English speaks ii without accent
and rather better than tho average of
English or Americans. Nearly all Of tho
schools above tho 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 we'll
conducted, are printed in English.
do not think it wild prediction
that English will bo essentially the Ian
guago of India q hundred years hence.
It is curious to contemplate what will
bo tho political result Of tho education
Of the Indian people Will they be con
tent, especially those of the Aryan race,
capable Of high development, with tho
shadow Of q government which is some
times driven to its wits ends with it;
own domestic problems, in a group oi
little islands 8, 600 miles Gway2 For tho
present l can scarcely conceive Of {
greater calamity for India than tho fail
ure of Great britain TO hold and govern
the country. 1t would be tho signal fol
anarchy, which would entail tho dcstruc
ton Of the people and seriously obstruc
the onward march Of human progress.
India is poor country. Its fabulous
wealth has been carried Off by conquer
ors or gathered into colossal fortune
by the few rich. Tho great body Of tn
J people arc miscrably poor. They barrel,
: keep body and soul together and do no
Z store up any vital force to resist disease
Tho failure Of one crop entails wide
! spread distress. Tho failure Of two il
succession means famine for millions
, Tho government is doing something Il
, improve tho conditions. In tho last iiv
Z years canals have been built, increasing
! tho area under irrig2tion about 90 pc
cent How much advantage tho tiller c
} tho soil gets from these improvements
do not know. Tho government costs to
much, and tho people arc taxed to tn
limit of endurance. Tho British Indi
} civil service is called tho best in til
, world. It is undoubtedly tho most o.
J pensive. 1t costs 1000, 600 $3.50
900, 000) q year. The civil servaI
serves in various capacities, from
( clerk to lieutenant governor, for 2
3 years, four of which arc given for hol
= days, and retiros with minimum pei
sion Of 81, OOO per annum. The cost of a
this comes out Of tho Indian people, an
their supcrstitions and customs rob tho
of part of what is left
There arc grave problems in Ind
and moro to come, and to solve the
will require all tho talent which can I
( secured. IL is doubtful whether tho me
chants of London, tho manufacturers
8 Manchester or the hereditary 0ristocra
who arc sent to hold vice regal conrts
+ Calcutta viii solve them in the intore
o Of the pooplo of India, who arc toda
9 about tho poorest fed, clothed an
y housed people ON earth. Yet l cann'
. but think that these people are capabI
Of great things in the future il they ca
be properly nourished and educate,
q Their bright, distinctly Aryan faces loo
Q out appealingly through surrounding
d of squalor and superstition and giY
/ promise Of high development under Il
vorablo conditions Indeed We s,
splendid specimens Of manhood anon
them today, and their graceful courtes
shamos our ruder manners. Cor. b
, A.. TT1..lH