Sir Arthur Hobhouse, during his residence in India, has caught
the Anglo-Indian weakness. He does not speak as well as he writes, or as clearly as he thinks ; but he would be a most valuable Member of the House. In a lecture to the Westminster• electors at Chelsea, on Monday, he boldly laid down a truth about India now too often forgot- ten. The empire is not an aid to this country, but a burden, lending us strength only so far as the immense task of governing it developes nobility of character in England. The great danger, therefore, is not that we should lose India, but that by governing it badly or oppressively we should degrade the character of government at home. That is what has happened in the last three years, the Indian Government slipping into the familiar practices of despotism, and becoming secret, suspicious, and arbitrary. Those changes are applauded at home by the advocates of arbitrary government, but they are sources of weakness, not of strength. We may add that if these qualities are long exhibited, they will infect the Government at home, which already suffers in reputation on the Continent, both from the suppression of correspondence, and the incessant executions.
Previous page
