The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-25
Popul ation of 3l5,-
100000 Must Be
Educated, Industries
Created and Racial
Lines Broken Down
BY EDWARD MARSHALL.

ton of India will be made with no undue
delay. The population which it will af-
feet is treble that of the United States.
1t has been conceived during war time,
and unless the war ends soon it will
probably be put into operation while the
great conflict RACES.
Edwin Samuel Montagu, Secretary of
State for India since 1917, is the man
who tells what England hopes Of Indian
self government in future, and he, at the
start at least, will have a large share of
its leadership.
''In the first place." said Mr. Montagu,
'the population of India is 315,000, 900.
Of the provinces into which British India
is divided Bengal and the United Prov
inces each contain a population as large
as that of the British Isles. Madras is
only little way behind them and Bonn
bay and the Punjab each contain approx
imately 2O,OOO,0OO. The population of the
native States is about as large as that
of the German Empire.
"Englishmen originally were attracted
to India by the commercial advantages it
offered. 1t was case of the flag follow
ing trade. AS soon as our position in
India was established we at once accepted
the responsibility of governing for the
good Of the governed.
Law and Order Guaranteed.
"We have given India peace such as
she had never known before. Law and
order have been guaranteed. The pros
perity of the country has been developed
by our railways and irrigation works,
which have diminished the dangers of
famine due to failure of the periodic
rains. We have promoted education and
are pledged to a programme which will
add immeasurably to the prosperity of
the country, for the development of edu-
cation will help to fit India for the new
role in the British Empire which now is
marked out for her.
"The education which we have given
India has not been as successful as we
could have wished, or as successful as
India demands. In 1911 only per cent.
of the population were able to read and
write in their own script. 1t is true that
even that 6 per cent. was gain, but this
shows the magnitude of the problem
which confronts us, for we have been
working toward the ideal of popular ed
ucation in India since 1880. Out of
population of 100000 in the United
Provinces the number of landlords whose
incomes exceed go per annum is only
126,OOO. The average earnings Of the
Indian peasant per month are $3.50. The
pay of the Indian soldier is about 1915
per month.
"Owing to the difficulty of finding
teachers and money a system has arisen
which has educated a small minority on
Western lines, but has left behind the
great mass of the population.
Must Spread Education.
Certainly the first necessity in India
is to spread education as widely as pos
sible. but it is impossible to ask the edu-
Gated minority to wait for an opportunity
to use their education for the benefit of
the country which they passionately love
till the majority has reached level COM
parable with their own.
"Great immediate plans are under way
Education already is spreading steadily,
and it must be said to the credit of the
Indians that whenever any Indian bene-
fits by the advantages of education he
shows almost pathetic eagerness to pass
along the blessing to his fellow country
men.
Another necessity of the situation is
the development of Indian industry. At
present, unfortunately, the standard of
wages in India is appallingly low, and
the degree of material comfort falls far
short of what We should like to see. 1t
has been the experience of Western
countries that the development of indus