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xii. of a self-governing nation. Nevertheless, the people of India are not going to remain sunk in ignorance for ever. They are able to learn, and they will learn. When they have won knowledge, when education has developed their capacity and at the same time made them more like one another, they will certainly not rest content as subjects of a foreign Power. They will claim the place of citizens, and they will get it. Meanwhile, in the long period which must elapse before such a claim can possibly be justified or enforced, the ruling power itself may be greatly altered. If the British Empire is then in existence, it will probably be stronger than it is now; but its strength will not be that of a little and populous kingdom controlling vast outlying territories with small or uncivilised populations all over the world--it will be the strength of a great alliance or federation of strong and self-governing nations. Will there be no room in such an elastic system for a nation which, though not of British blood, has had the British Empire for her foster-mother? May we not venture to hope that when India has the choosing of her own future she will connect herself with the nation to which she is now involuntarily bound?

There are other forces than gratitude--which, indeed, is said to have no existence in politics; and it is not always kindest to do what would