THE SECRET OF OUR RULE IN INDIA.
To Tao Eorroo or vas "Sroororoo.".1
SIR,—The following views on native self-government in India written by General John Jacob, of Sind, in 1854, may interest your readers at this juncture. They occur in a book entitled " Views and Opinions of Brigadier-General John Jacob," published by Smith, Taylor, and Co., Bombay, 1858.—I am, "To the Anglo-Saxon race self-government is essential. But force the Oriental to take his share in government, and you will soon have no government at all. The former considers that which unnecessarily interferes with his freedom to be wrong, and thinks and acts upon the principle that all men have equal rights. The latter considers being compelled to govern himself as the greatest oppression and tyranny. He expects to be ruled, and to be ruled well ; otherwise he will, perhaps, rebel and destroy his bad rulers. But in no case will be attempt to establish freedom. It is obvious that two races of men with principles of action and feelings different, can never be successfully managed by adopting one system, and forcing it alike on both. But while incapable of self-government, the natives of India, like other human beings, feel gratitude and devotion towards those who raise their moral, intellectual, and social position ; and are actuated by a strong wish and earnest zeal to show that they are worthy of the respect- able position to which they are raised. Too mistrustful of their equals to submit to their rule, they cheerfully submit to an English gentleman, whom they all acknowledge and feel to be their superior. We hold India, then, by being in reality, as in reputation, a superior race to the Asiatic ; and if this natural superiority did. not exist, we should not, and could not, retain the country for one week. If, then, we really are a morally superior race, governed by higher motives, and possessing higher attributes than the Asiatics, the more the natives of India are able to understand us, and the more we improve their capacity for so understanding, the firmer will become our power. Away, then, with the assumption of equality; and let us accept our true position of a dominant race. So placed, let us establish our rule by setting them a high example, by making them feel the value of truth and honesty, and by raising their moral and intellectual powers. But if we are not superior to the Indians, the attempt to retain our sovereignty over them will be as hopeless, as it will be vicious. And England neither can nor wishes to be powerful in evil. (18SW
Previous page
