WORK OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL 227 
tration must be based rather than on the placidity 
of a small educated class, whose numbers are in 
comparison infinitesimal. 
In a country held by an alien race, without 
entering into the question whether the hold is 
maintained by the sword or by the affection of the 
people, the subject race must first prove that it is 
competent to carry out honestly and efficiently the 
needful executive work under proper supervision. 
The grant of administrative authority should not be 
conferred on them as of right, but in response to 
approved merit, and posts conferring such authority 
should not be “ reserved” for their occupation ; they 
should be merely open to their attainment after 
practical proof of their loyalty both to the Govern- 
ment and to their country. And especially should 
their loyalty to their own country be above suspicion, 
for even if we pleaded guilty to the atrocities and 
brutalities of which we may be accused by any 
political visitor who in a three months’ trip has 
unravelled all the mysteries of Hindustan, we might 
still pride ourselves that these are but caresses 
compared to the ill-treatment that their religion 
tolerated, and their history records, as the everyday 
habit of both Mohammedan and Hindu monarchs. 
Such were the views which impelled me to 
endeavour to improve the conditions of service in 
the Forest Department, and I was glad when the 
late Sir Denzil Ibbetson gave me permission to 
place my arguments and proposals before him, so 
that they might, if approved of, be subjected to the 
fiery ordeal of criticism by the Finance Department 
of the Government of India. 
