(   29   )

The Interests of Foreign Missionaries, Merchants and
Public Servants.

22.    Mr. Montagu and Lord Chelmsford  have  per¬
suaded themselves that Indians are not yet fit for such a
measure.    But  they  cannot persuade Indians to agree
with them.    I   have  already  dealt with  the principal
grounds  upon which they have based their conclusions.
I   have  given   sufficient reasons  for the belief that the
interests  of the  ryot  will   not suffer  at the hands  of
educated Indians.    I have  shown that  neither  educa¬
tional backwardness nor  differences   of religion,   race
and caste stand in the way of reform.    I am bound   to
add  that Indians   will   resent  the  further    suggestion
that  if power were transferred to them, the interests of
missionaries,  foreign   merchants, and of foreigners  in
the  service  of  India  would suffer.    Educated Indians
have not shown any hostility towards niissionaries.    On
the  contrary   they   have pulled very well with many of
them.    But   the   anxiety   of Mr.   Montagu  and  Lord
Chelmsford   to  place the interests  of persons who pro¬
fessedly   come to  this   country   to  convert   its people
from  the   faith   of their  ancestors,   in the scale against
the demands  of the country for advance in   the  direc¬
tion  of self-government,  so  vital   to national life and
growth,   will   supply   to    unprejudiced   minds  a  new
argument  in   favour of home rule.    It is equally unjust
to the people of this  country   to  suggest   that  if  they
got power  they   might  use  it  to the injury of foreign
merchants and public servants.    Have not the relations
of the  foreign merchants with Indians at all important
centres of industry,  been   uniformly   of  goodwill and
fair dealing?    What reason is there then to be found in
fact to justify the apprehension that if Indians got power
they would indulge in any " prejudiced   attack " on,  or
allow any " privileged competition"  against, any exist¬
ing industry ?   that they will be so foolish as to jeopar-