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condition of the people, so as to enable them to bear 

 direct taxation. Now the people of all countries 

 living- under anything- approaching- a constitutional 

 Government, have undoubtedly a right to pronounce 

 an opinion on such a question. It has been repeat- 

 edly declared ex-cathedra, that the principle of 

 British Rule in India is not a Military Despotism ; 

 but on the contrary, that it is Her Majesty's wish 

 that the British Government in India shall be based 

 on the contentment and g-ood will of the people. 

 In European Countries, it is not a very easy matter to 

 ascertain the wishes of the people. Of this we daily 

 have convincing 1 proof. In India, moreover, in 

 consequence of the variety of races and religions, 

 to say nothing* of the caste prejudices we have to 

 deal with, it would be almost impossible to find the 

 people of accord on very many questions of state 

 policy of great importance. In such cases the Go- 

 vernment must be left to its own honest convictions 

 to act as to its wisdom and judgment seemeth best 

 for the great mass of the people, and the past fur- 

 nishes us with a good guarantee, that where in- 

 formation is not defective, and honesty and integrity 

 of purpose are apparent, the people of India, ever 

 accustomed to despotism, and, alas, too often, to 

 despotism tyrannically exercised, will accommodate 

 themselves to the wishes of their Rulers, with a 

 readiness and a good will unknown in any part of 

 Europe. But if there is one point in the policy of 

 the British Government on which the people of 



