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does not represent the true state of the case, and that it fails 

 entirely to expose the real evils that have been the effective 

 causes of discouragement in the past, some of which have, in 

 consequence, remained in operation, and are still unremedied. 

 The ready acceptance which this superficial theory has 

 received has proved a very serious impediment to progress, 

 and a grievous injury to the people, especially to that large 

 section of them who are still suffering helplessly under 

 adverse conditions, for which they are not in any way 

 responsible. 



Those writers who adopt this theory, and their followers 

 quote the evidences of ancient prosperity and plenty con- 

 tained in the ruined irrigation works to show what has 

 actually been done, and they refer for proofs of more modern 

 industry and success to the vaunted riches extracted from 

 the country in former times. But they generally overlook the 

 fact that the foundation on which those superstructures of 

 past greatness and wealth were built was, in both cases, 

 unstable. Under native rule the whole resources of the 

 country and the sinew of the people were in the power of the 

 State and were devoted to one enterprise, dependent for its 

 success on vast works, which the State alone could maintain. 

 The failure of these works therefore inevitably sealed the 

 doom of the unhappy people, who had no escape from the 

 ruin imposed upon them. They lived under artificial con- 

 ditions of which they were not the splendid authors, but 

 only the miserable victims. It was not nature that was cruel 

 to them, nor were they responsible for the violation of her 

 laws. Equally unnatural and impolitic was the conduct of 

 our immediate predecessors, and though it operated in very 

 different ways it was not less effective than that of the native 

 rulers in crushing out the vital principles of industrial 

 enterprise. 



The authorities whose writings and opinions have been 

 referred to may be divided into two classes, viz., those who 

 have apprehended the true state of the case, and have 

 sympathised deeply with the sufferers ; and those who, on the 



