The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28
GREAT BRITAIN IN INDIA.
independence the Empires Goal.

independence the Empires Goal.
How This Result is Being Helped on by
the English Language, Christianity
and Popular Education.
(Rey. W.. +. Oldham in Northwestern
Christian Advooate.)
India has always been weak against
foreign conquerors because the for
eigner has only been Obliged to subdue
her, one people at a time. A common
literature, common traditions the record
of common history, above all, the un-
breakable ties of common speech-none
Of these has ever cemented the fragments
of India into one united whole. India
is now finding what she has long neetled,
the means of communicating the
thoughts of any section to the whole
country. This vehicle fer common in
tercourse she begins to nno in tho Eng
lish la euage. The man of the Mahrat-
tas now speaks to the Bengaiees of Che
and the Sikhs Of the far north, through
the columns Of newspapers and maga
zines and books printed In English. The
speaker from Calcutta speaks in Bombay
or Madras, but only In English. The
s'iingna franea" Of the various and hith-
conqueror, and In receiving that gift
alone India has derived more from Eng
land than she can ever repay. 1t Is true
that as yet only small fraction OF the
people read English, but the area in
cresses daily, and the whole mental ac-
tiyity of the country is with THESE Eng
Iish readers. Not over one third of the
newspapers are In the vernaculars, the
remainder being either English or : An
glosve1 nacular;' that 10, with the Eng
Ish and vernacular in parallel columns.
With the use Of common tongue there
is graii ly growing, TOO, for the first
time a national consciousness, which
shows itself in the organization Of a ma
tionaI perlisment which discusses mat
ters of public order, reform movements,
ETC., and ventures to formulate Its
opinions into RESOLUTIONS for the nd
Woe of the Indian government, or even
the guidance OF the governing body, the
"British Parliament: Under the infiu-
ence of this movement young India be-
gins to say, not. 81 am Mahratta. !"
and 81 am Bengale." but "We are
Indiana There is quickened desire
to go to the most ancient Indian litera-
lures, and to find in them the evidences
of former greatness, and In English 1t IL
sought to write again the glories of an
almost forgotten past as common bond
for the present, and to stir up hope for
a common future. AS the language of
the foreign invader is proving the means
Of creating and then developing the mas
cent national CONSCIOUSNESS, SO in the
religious ideas of tine invader il being
found menstr uum for the uonfi iotine
religions. Not that all India is becoln-
ing formally Christian, but that the
new religion is fast humanizing and
taking the rigidities and asperities out
ence of Christian ideas is not to be
measured in India by counting the mum.
ber of Christian converts. but by noting
the profound impression they are max.
ing upon the Hindu and Mohammedan
faiths. The native faiths are learning In
the light OF Christianity's teaching OF
Peace on erth. good will toward men, y
the beginnings of mutual tolerance. A
lesson hard for the Moslem to learn, fol
he was accustomed to rule with the
sword; hard for the Hindu to learn, TO,
he has centuries of insult and repression
to repay. Aud yet the educated men ol
both parties, educated in the atmosphere
of nearby Christi lity, appreciate the
value of "freBdom of conscience, and
the rank and dle will learn the lesson,
even If slowly.
Is England helping India to attain
self-governang power? She is, both de
signsdly, AND thrust on by that Plovi
dence which overrides the littlsness Of
nations, az OF men, and constraink them
to.play worthier parts and work larger
good than their own choosing. When
the Indian mutiny demonstrated the
inability Of the East India Company te
longer oontr oil it's great Indian pnsses-
efOus, Vno 1nka5A governments tOOk III
dia ont of tie oompany's hands, and in
the proclamation setting forth the intsn.
tions Of the government, England sol
snanly pledged herself to prepare the peo.
pie for home rule. In the main she has
kept her word. The Indian official cote.
rie, which from time to time has had
the control Of local affairs. may not al
ways have been in sympathy with this
program mes local offioialdom is not al.
ways endowed with the widest horizon;
but in the main, the fesling Of the Brit
ish people is that India is not subject
but ware under training. as yet in hel
homage. bat some day to "come of age
and direct hersslf. To this end n vas,