Lord Salisbury made a great speech at Manchester on Tuesday,
.chiefly upon India Railways. He believes the extension of com- merce in the Empire depends on the extension of Railways, and wants them pushed on without so much regard to immediate profit. He seems to think that the general increase of wealth will repay both the Government and the natives. It will pay the latter in one way, certainly, but it must be remembered that India wants Government assistance in other ways, education, for instance, and that to lock up all surplus revenue in works of utility is to give atones when the people ask bread. As to repaying the Govern- ment, that is true in part, but we should like to ask Lord Salisbury how, supposing the unrepaid guarantees to amount to ten millions a year, he proposes to get the money back. Lord Salisbury wishes mercantile members added to the India Council, and is half inclined to Mr. Disraeli's scheme of allowing the great towns to elect them. Why will it not do to give the Secretary of State the power of appointing such members ? He is usually as wise as Mr. Bazley, and always wiser than an average householder.
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