Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
248 1845-6.
The apprehensions of the
English.
CHAP. IX
that they were about to enter upon a war purely defensive, although one in every way congenial to their feelings of youthful pride and national jealousy. From the moment the Sikh army became predominant in the state, the English authorities had been persuaded that the machinery of government would be broken up, that bands of plunderers would everywhere arise, and that the duty of a civilized people to society generally, and of a governing power to its own sub-
would all combine to bring on^ a collision; and thus measures which seemed sufficient were adopted for strengthening the frontier posts, and for having a force at hand which might prevent aggression, or which would at least exact retribution and vindicate the supremacy of the English name.^ These were the fair and moderate objects of the British Government; but the Sikhs took a different view of the relative conditions of the two states; they feared the ambition of their great and growing neighbour, they did not understand why they should be dreaded when intestine com-
jects,
jPhe fears of
the
Sikhs,
motions
had reduced
their
comparative
inferiority
lower; or why inefficiency of rule should be construed into hostility of purpose; defensive measures took in their eyes the form of aggr-essive preparations, and they came to the conclusion that their country was to be invaded. Nor does this conviction of the weaker and less intelligent power appear to be strange or unreasonable, although erroneous for it is always to be borne in mind that India is far behind Europe in civilization, and that political morality or moderation is as little appreciated in the East in these days as it was in Christendom in the Middle Ages. Hindustan, moreover, from Kabul to the valley of Assam and the island of Ceylon, is regarded as one country, and dominion in it is associated in the minds of the people with the still
—
predominance of one monarch or of one race. The supremacy of Vikramajit and Chandra Gupta, of the Turkomans and Mughals, is familiar to all, and thus on hearing of further acquisitions by the English, a Hindu or Muhammadan will simply observe that the destiny of the nation is great, or that its cannon is irresistible. prince may chafe that he loses a province or is rendered tributary; but the public will never accuse the conquerors of unjust aggression, or at least of unrighteous and unprincipled ambition.
A
Cf. Minute by the Governor-General, of the 16th June and the Governor-General to the Secret Committee, 1st October 1845. (Parliamentary Paper, 1846.) 1
1845,
248 1845-6.
The apprehensions of the
English.
CHAP. IX
that they were about to enter upon a war purely defensive, although one in every way congenial to their feelings of youthful pride and national jealousy. From the moment the Sikh army became predominant in the state, the English authorities had been persuaded that the machinery of government would be broken up, that bands of plunderers would everywhere arise, and that the duty of a civilized people to society generally, and of a governing power to its own sub-
would all combine to bring on^ a collision; and thus measures which seemed sufficient were adopted for strengthening the frontier posts, and for having a force at hand which might prevent aggression, or which would at least exact retribution and vindicate the supremacy of the English name.^ These were the fair and moderate objects of the British Government; but the Sikhs took a different view of the relative conditions of the two states; they feared the ambition of their great and growing neighbour, they did not understand why they should be dreaded when intestine com-
jects,
jPhe fears of
the
Sikhs,
motions
had reduced
their
comparative
inferiority
lower; or why inefficiency of rule should be construed into hostility of purpose; defensive measures took in their eyes the form of aggr-essive preparations, and they came to the conclusion that their country was to be invaded. Nor does this conviction of the weaker and less intelligent power appear to be strange or unreasonable, although erroneous for it is always to be borne in mind that India is far behind Europe in civilization, and that political morality or moderation is as little appreciated in the East in these days as it was in Christendom in the Middle Ages. Hindustan, moreover, from Kabul to the valley of Assam and the island of Ceylon, is regarded as one country, and dominion in it is associated in the minds of the people with the still
—
predominance of one monarch or of one race. The supremacy of Vikramajit and Chandra Gupta, of the Turkomans and Mughals, is familiar to all, and thus on hearing of further acquisitions by the English, a Hindu or Muhammadan will simply observe that the destiny of the nation is great, or that its cannon is irresistible. prince may chafe that he loses a province or is rendered tributary; but the public will never accuse the conquerors of unjust aggression, or at least of unrighteous and unprincipled ambition.
A
Cf. Minute by the Governor-General, of the 16th June and the Governor-General to the Secret Committee, 1st October 1845. (Parliamentary Paper, 1846.) 1
1845,
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