INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

AND PRESS CRITICISJf. 159
thropic agent, why do we make such a fuss
about the probability of Russia desiring to
obtain India? Why, when both countries have
such worthy and identical objects in view,
should we not at once offer India to Russia?
But to return to the question, why, when England
contributes nothing to the Exchequer of
her dependency, should she dictate to her? Is
she prepared to undertake all the vast schemes
of irrigation, regardless of Indian experience,
which her press proposes? Will she supply
the physical and financial means in the next
famine necessary to prevent all deaths whatsoever?
It has actually been proposed that the
Governor-General should be impeached if a
famine death occurred! I do not say that any
reasonable man would ever dream of such a
thing, and the proposal should therefore be
allowed to rest in oblivion; it may seem consequently
inconsistent to disturb its repose.
But there are unreasonable beings in this
world; such a proposal may crop up again:
it would therefore be as well to point out, that
on the same principle there is no reason why
the general who, in our next little war, loses