Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-06-28
THE INDIAN EMPIRE.
INTERESTING COMMENTS BY AN OBJ
SERVING TRAVELLER.

The Past and Future of u Great Country
and Remarkable PeopIe-Made Poor by
the Spoliation of Foreigners English
Language Coming Into General Use.
We have travelled more than 2. 500
miles i'll 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 Moha1hmedan 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 at
TanjOre and Madura we can only Judge
by small specimens seen at Madras and
Pondicherry. The wonderful cave tenn
plies at 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 endeavored 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 a great deal of good, though not ex-
actly in the way it is popularity under
stood at home. | think I may say that
4. r.
broadened our views of Asiatic history.
Especially have we been impressed with
the spectacle of an empire of 240, 000,-
900 people of different races and reli-
gions, governed by a handful of Euro
peans, and in the main well governed,
with 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
nually thousands of educated natives.
1t is 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 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 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 hldian people. Will 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 |
little islands 5000 miles away? For the
present l can scarcely conceive of a
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 is 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 are miserably 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 |
@l,o oh
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 to the |
limit of endurance. The British India |
civil service is called the best in the |
world. 1t is undoubtedly the most ex-
pensive. 1t costs Eli, 900, 900 $780,
900, 000) a year. The civil servant |
serves in various capacities, from a |
clerk to lieutenant governor, for % |
years, four of which are given for holi- |
days. and retires with a minimum pen /
sion of IL, 600 per annum. 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 l 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
haw. l.