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SIR ANDREW WINGATE, K.C.I.E., ON INDIA. 



quarrels between the Extremists and the Moderates in the National 

 Congress : it was notorious, in my time in Bengal, that there was 

 what used to be called faction-fighting in every village in the Province : 

 it is impossible to suppose that party spirit will cease. 



Passing on to religion, I wish to say that I yield to no one in my 

 desire for the spread of Christianity. I should, of course, like to see it 

 prevail throughout India. But this must be considered as a practical 

 question. There must be caution, or more harm than good will be 

 done. The Government has to be neutral in religious matters. 

 If, for instance, they were to interfere by introducing religion into 

 the curriculum of education, there would soon be some dispute in 

 the spending of public money, the Press would take it up, and there 

 would be the cry of religion in danger, which might easily lead to 

 disturbances, mutinies, rebellion, throughout India. So also as to 

 the Bible : much as one would like to see it introduced into the 

 schools and colleges, it is impossible that this should be done with 

 the authority of Government. Nor is it likely to be done by Indians 

 in positions of authority. I have often been told by natives of India 

 that, though they have to be tolerant in public, they really dislike 

 our religion, and that they hate the missionaries, who are regarded 

 as enemies to the Hindu and Mohammedan religions : the people 

 go to the missionary schools because they are cheap and the teaching 

 is good, but they object to the missionaries themselves. We must not 

 shut our eyes to the whole facts, and there is no use in believing 

 merely what we like and wish to see in the facts presented. I am 

 afraid, therefore, that it will be a long time before Christianity makes 

 any great way in India, although each census shows that the numbers 

 of converts increase, especially among the lower classes and primitive 

 races. Is there, then, no hope for India ? I am no pessimist, and 

 think there is still hope. But it will be so in spite of the reforms, 

 not in consequence of them. Is it likely that as the Indians acquire 

 more and more power, they will do anything to support Christianity, 

 or the adoption of the Bible in schools and colleges ? Hope lies, 

 I think, in the reserve of final power in the hands of the Viceroy and 

 the Government of India, who, in the last resort, are responsible that 

 India does not altogether come to grief. But, by these reforms. 

 Government in India has been made more difficult : there will be 

 more talk, less done, and less progress will be effected. This is not 



