The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-02
NOT READY FOR EMERGENCY
MORE MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SPENT ON IRRIGATION.
Best Interests of Natives Not n First
Considerntion-Poor Outlook
for Hindus.

The charity OF the outside world may
have somewhat made up for Great Britains
employment CT revenue elsewhere than
in her Indian empire, and the immediate
necessities OF her subjects there thus been
in some degree ameliorated. THE good
Lord have mercy upon these people
quoting from a recently received letter
penned by a European resident OF many
years-"there is nothing ahead for the
millions of common people in this land
but death. and the sooner II comes the
sooner will be their freedom from the
veriest OF purgatories. With what they
owed the government and its taxgatherers.
as well as the native land owners and
money lenders. from past seasons indif-
ferent crops. coupled with this years dire
failure. life will not be- long enough for
the great majority 10 free themselves
This sounds harsh and unfeeling. but
is not so meant. What indeed have they to
live for, and from present and past exc
perience. what have they TO expect when
their European rulers commence TO make
up for this seasons arrearsl The deficien-
cy is mounting into the hundreds OF mill
lions of dollars and must be met by tbs
toll OF those whom starvation does not
kill. Every contribution the sympathy OF
the outer world has made to save midas
wretched natives is, in effect, the contin-
uance of their taxmasters sway over
them; the prolongation of their physical
power TO make good the tremendous def
icit now facing the government None the
less, from humanity's view, should be the
volume Of relief, but every shipload II
an Indictment
That the visitation of effects upon the
empire through the calamity of insufficient
rains and a general paralysis Of natures
functions would have been very severe. de-
spite all precautions against such poten-
tialities, is beyond question, but that COM
piete desolation and absolute starvation
would have ensued. as has, is seriously to
be doubted.
1t is characteristic of England. and never
more so than Of late years. TO go along in q
happy -go-lucky way, trusting TO the good
fortune which had become so the rule az
TO be proverbial, TO bring things around all
right. She was always talking about being
ready for any emergencies. but for EACH
when it did come proved not to be so.
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
1t costs two hundred and odd millions OF
dollars a year to maintain the Army and
Civil Service in India: keep there the Eng
at home, and who must be fed. clothed and
made comfortable before the native, who
has to pay for all this. can care for himself
or his own. One hundred and forty million
dollars wcrth of the years harvest, and the
first lien upon it, is the governments. It
comes ahead of everything else and consti-
tutes the large single item of the States
revenue. Foreclosure upon delinquents 10
through the tax gatherers. who are merci-
less. Their ''rake-off' is involved and
might be likened TO a second mortgage.
In the production Of crop the native has
to have recourse to the governmental sys-
tenn OF irrigation and such, comparatively
few, of the waterways as have been mod
ernized were so engineered" as to embrace
about all available to the agriculturist
through his old time methods. In sections
where the improvements were not per-
fected the water courses were, in instances.
affected to enhance the fow into the mod
ern bitches, and while ii might be too much
TO say that the planning was designedly 10
the end that the revenue from the governs
mental system should be regardless OF tlls
detriment to these not within il, results
| give color TO such appearance. 1t is true
| that where irrigation has been intelligently
and systematically designed and conducted
| the demonstration has been most satisfac<
| tory, but it is equally true that the system
| is lamentably restricted and nothing is
| more conspicuous. in an observation of
| the situation as whole, than the unheed-
| ing of the opportunities for enlarging the
water supply and thus providing against
| the contingencies which have made this
year so horrifying. Had a relatively small
| percentage OF the millions expended solely
| for the convenience and comfort OF the
! European been devoted TO the bare necessi-
| ties OF the native, India would have had
| something to fail back upon in an emerg>
| ency. and not been compelled 10 go upon
| her knees suppliant for the worlds char
| ity. Whatever the irrigation system has
| been made. the native has paid for IL, and
| IL its maintenance is at the rate OF fifteen
millions a year the annual dues exacted
| from the native is something In excess
| quarter TO a half million IL no mere. Salt
| which to the native is in every way as es-
sential as water. is government monop-
| oily, its production being so hedged about
| and manipulated as TO yield equal 10 forty
FIVE millions of dollars annually The re-
! moval Of some, at the least, OF the restric-
| tions as to its procurement would augment
| the supply and lessen the cost. but as this
/ would be at The expense Of the govern
| mental revenue. IL is needless to say is re-
| garded as wholly impracticable- II is ev-
| erything TO deplete the natives purse.
nothing TO cause it's filing and the tying
| up in a corner Of it something for the pro-
/ verbal rainy day
SUPPORTING THE RAILWAYS.
| without the steady fostering OF the pill
| grimage and festival tendencies OF the
| Hindu lower classes. as well as the induc-
| ing and promoting of religious celebrations
| generally. there is not a railway In India
which would pay its operating expenses. IL
| would mean financial ruin to every one Of
the lines to discourage. or, in any manner
| whatsoever. attempt 10 lessen the multi
| plicity OF religious gatherings. However
| the Christian missionaries may preach
against the alleged evil influences and de-
morsiizing allurements OF. these great as
semblages to perpetuate the IIindu's fsalty
to the faith OF his fathers. il may be de-
pendsd upon that the Christian governments