Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/179

 thereof in his private capacity, as may seem good to him. In my opinion, this is the legislation you should aim at, and the only legislation that could ever be necessary or justifiable. But even this legislation you cannot expect from a Govern- ment entirely composed of foreigners. Were I Viceroy at this moment with virtually only European colleagues, I should reply to you just as Lord Dufferin has done, viz., that Government is not in a position to legislate on such subjects. But as soon as we have a strong independent representative element in all our Councils, the situation will be altogether changed, and whenever and wherever a considerable majority of Indian Representatives press for permissive legis- lation of the character above indicated, then and there, be sure that Government will cease to oppose it. And I confess that until we have such representatives and until these support and press for such a measure, I see little prospect of your obtaining any legislative sanction for the efforts of the Social Reform Party. Now it is to secure this represen- tation that the National or Political Reform Party are straining every nerve, and you and your party, if they are wise, will second their efforts with the heartiest good will. Together we must all rise or together be plunged in the existing Slough of Despond.

It is grievous to find honest patriots working in other lines, because they dissent from some of your methods instead of merely controverting these, descending to attribute to you unworthy motives and to attack you personally, than whom (whatever errors you may possibly have fallen into) a more earnest or honest lover of India and her people does not, I believe (and I speak after many years' knowledge of you) exist.

I know that some who attack you thus do not really mean all they say, but merely hope (and a very vain hope it is) to keep you quiet. They say, *' Confound the fellow, why can't he keep quiet : what we want first and foremost is political enfranchisement, the fuss he keeps making about his widows, etc., tends to sow dissensions in our camp, and to direct the public mind from the more important work we have in hand,