Lord Curzon may have moved a little too straight .to
his object, though that doeS not appear on the surface ;' but Mr. Fanshawe is obviously in the wrong. Officials in his position are not colleagues of the Viceroy. but Executive agents, entitled, no doubt, to remonstrate against a course of action,
but bound when a decision is arrived at to carry it out loyally to the best of their power. Their position is that of the per- manent Under-Secretaries in England, who advise, often with great freedom, but when overruled act upon.the instructions of the responsible Minister. If every resolution of the supreme Government were to produce resignations, the power of acting suddenly, and for reasons higher than those locally urged, which is the raison. dare of the Viceroyalty, would disappear, and the Viceroy would only be at liberty to do things approved by his subordinates. Imagine Lord W. Bentinck fettered in that way when he cut down everybody's allowances. The Government of India is not intended to be a Constitutional Monarchy against which one can appeal to the people, but a despotism controlled by a responsible Minister at home and the authority of Parliament.
