The incompetence of the House of Commons to deal with
Indian questions came out strongly on Tuesday. Some Mem- bers wished for a debate on the coat of the frontier policy, a most important subject, needing discussion, and they actually mixed it up with the Indian liquor laws. Because the frontier costs money, therefore the Government were " stimu- lating" the liquor traffic. The debate, therefore, was a mixture of Russophobia and teetotalism, the speakers dis- cussing Afghanistan and arraek, frontier railways and palm- toddy all together, till a reader who goes steadily through the debate half doubts whether he himself can be quite sober. Upon the matter of the frontier, the critics had but one opinion, that the railways had cost too much, which is a ques- tion for experts ; but upon the drink they had many, none of them very practical. If they really mean that Government should carry out the old Hindoo and Mahommedan policy, and prohibit drinking altogether, why do they not say so ? There is plenty to be said for such a course, for an Asiatic drinks to get drank, and to drink in the teeth of your conscience, as every Hindoo and Mussulman must do, must demoralise. If they are afraid to go so far, why not propose a formal resolution, "That the spirit- duties in India be quadrupled." That would restrict drinking with a vengeance, and would be exceedingly popular besides, the whole population, drunkards and all, holding that suppression is the clear duty of the ruler.
Previous page
