"You can't impose Western civilization upon an Eastern people--I
believe I'm right in saying that there are over two hundred millions
in our Indian Empire--without a little disturbance. I'm a Liberal
you know, I've been a Liberal my whole life--family tradition--though
I grieve to say I could _not_ follow Mr. Gladstone on the Home Rule
question. It seems to me a good sign, this movement, an awakening
among the people. But don't misunderstand me, my dear Sir, I am not
making any excuses for the methods of the extremists. Apart from my
calling--I have a natural horror of violence. Nothing can condone
violence, the taking of human life, it's savagery, terrible, terrible."
"They don't put it down with a strong enough hand," the stock-jobber
was saying almost fiercely. "There's too much Liberalism in the East,
too much namby-pambyism. It's all right here, of course, but it's not
suited to the East. They want a strong hand. After all they owe us
something: we aren't going to take all the kicks and leave them all
the halfpence. Rule 'em, I say, rule 'em, if you're going to rule
'em. Look after 'em, of course: give 'em schools, if they want
education--Schools, hospitals, roads, and railways. Stamp out the
plague, fever, famine. But let 'em know you are top dog. That's the
way to run an eastern country: I'm a white man, you're black; I'll
treat you well, give you courts and justice; but I'm the superior
race, I'm master here."
The man who had looked round at me when I said "Here's luck!" was
fidgeting about in his chair uneasily. I examined him more carefully.
There was no mistaking the cause of his irritation. It was written on
his face, the small close-cut white moustache, the smooth firm cheeks
with the deep red-and-brown glow on them, the innumerable wrinkles round
the eyes, and above all the eyes themselves, that had grown slow and
steady and unastonished, watching that inexplicable, meaningless march
of life under blazing suns. He had seen it, he knew. "Ah," I thought,
"he is beginning to feel his liver. If he would only begin to speak.
We might have some fun."
"H'm, h'm," said the archdeacon. "Of course there's something in what
you say. Slow and sure. Things may be going too fast, and, as I say,
I'm entirely for putting down violence and illegality with a strong
hand. And after all, my dear Sir, when you say we're the superior race
you imply a duty. Even in secular matters we must spread the light. I
believe--devoutly--I am not ashamed to say so--that we are. We're
reaching the people there, it's the cause of the unrest, we set them
an example. They desire to follow. Surely, surely we should help to
guide their feet. I don't speak without a certain knowledge. I take a
great interest, I may even say that I play my small part, in the
work of one of our great missionary societies. I see our young men,
many of them risen from the people, educated often, and highly educated
(I venture to think), in Board Schools. I see them go out full of high
ideals to live among those poor people. And I see them when they come
back and tell me their tales honestly, unostentatiously. It is always
the same, a message of hope and comfort. We are getting at the people,
by example, by our lives, by our conduct. They respect us."