Page:Hyderabad in 1890 and 1891; comprising all the letters on Hyderabad affairs written to the Madras Hindu by its Hyderabad correspondent during 1890 and 1891 (IA hyderabadin1890100bangrich).pdf/163

155 amidst the crash of the bright reputations that their previous services had built up. Verily Hyderabad proved, in their cases a grave of political reputations. Such was the record that was left of the work of Sir Dennis's predecessors and that started him in the face when he took charge of the office of Resident here. He saw that 'interference' was eminently characteristic of it. And in his supreme anxiousness to fare better than his predecessors had done, to secure to his reputation a fate different from that which overtook theirs, he failed to note that it was party-spirited interference, interference at the instance of intriguing heads, that had proved their ruin-and set his heart upon pursuing a policy of perfect non-interference. This was a mistake surely. But it is not to this alone that the Hydrabadees owe the worst system of Government that they have had for a long time, the consolidation of the power of a set of aliens, the most self-seeking and the least interested in their well-being that they have known. For, we know that rigid non-interference acts oftentimes as a check upon erring men by the dread, born of uncertainty, it inspires-and Sir Dennis Fitz- patrick could have furnished this check with his policy but for his possessing qualities which we are accustomed to look upon as estimable in a man. Sir Dennis is social and affable, and as such he could not keep aloof from the influence of the Hyderabad officials. And it was an unlucky day for Hyderabad, when he set aside the very salutary rule of not permitting the officials of His Highness the Nizam's Government to come in frequent contact with him, and announced his intention to be at home" once in a week. Hyderabad officials were not the men to be slow to avail themselves of a privilege. They put in their appearance at the Residency regularly, and gave their versions of the story" and represented measures in their light so often and so persistently that it would have been a wonder if he did not come to believe in them as he has believed in them, and become. a partizan-unconsciously to be sure of their's as he has become And the results have been most unfortunate. The most glaring instances of oppression, wrong-doing, injustice, and mischief caused