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nounce an opinion on such a question. It has been 

 repeatedly declared ex cathedra, that the principle of 

 British Euie in India is not a Militay 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 good 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 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 

 question of state policy of great importance. In 

 such cases the Government must be left to its 

 own honest convictions to act as to its wisdom and 

 judgement seemeth best for the great muss of 

 the people, and the past furnishes us with a good 

 guarantee, that where information 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 exer- 

 cised, 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 India are in accord; that 

 point is direct taxation. Against this the voice 

 of the nation has unmistakeably declared itself, aad 



