Lord Elgin on Tuesday, while handing a fresh decoration to
the Maharajah of Puttiala„ delivered rather a fine speech. He thanked the Sikh " nation " heartily twice over for their loyalty and constancy, and then proceeded to speak of the Afridis, against whom the Pattiala troops had just been employed. "We have," he said, "no abiding quarrel with our neighbours in the hills. It is our aim to leave them the entire occupation of their country, the fullest measure of autonomy, and the most complete liberty in internal affairs to follow tribal customs." He hinted that the war against them had been undertaken against his personal judgment, but it had at least had this result, that the tribes know that even in the hour of victory we are not cruel or vindictive. He hoped the time would arrive when the Afridis would be as staunchly loyal as the Sikhs. We have no doubt of its arriving if we remain always as sensible as we are now, but what a curious light this speech throws upon our official system. Who ordered the war if Lord Elgin did not, and who has so greatly changed the attitude towards the tribes originally assumed? Has it come to this, that a Viceroy of India may be powerless on a question of peace or war ? If so, we shall have a great disaster some day, and inter- mediately we do not see the use of a Viceroy.
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