Speeches and Papers on Indian Questions 1897-1900

requirements of the people and the probable deficit in the food supply ; and to the plans which have been organised with wisdom and carried out with industry to find out distress by means of test relief works and to relieve it with all the resources under the command of the Government of India and the Proyincial Goverments. [...] They are ; firstly a contribution from the British Exchequer towards the military expenses of her Asiatic Empire and a reduction of the annual economic drain from India ; secondly a reform in the administration and the removal of certain causes which are palpably leading to the impoverishment of the cultivators ; thirdly a settlement in perpetuity of the revenues derived from the soil ; fourthl [...] Amidst these complications in the face of the vast ependiture which had to be incurred for the relief of the famine and the prosecution of the war India expected some help some relief from the British Exchequer The Chancellor of the Exchequer had given some hope of relief about a month ago and had then turned round and said that the Indian Government did not want the money from the British [...] But the present Goverment sickens at the very idea of working through the people and by means of a popular institution and they have introduced a Bill in the Bengal Council virtually taking away all real power from the elected Municipal Commissioners of the Capital of India! A blow is aimed at the root of self-government in Calcutta and it is dreaded as the beginning of the end of all muni [...] Continue the policy which you adopted in the past of trust and cofidence in the people of accepting the help and coperation of the people in the management of their concerns (Cheers )—and the empire of India will he based on the firmest of all foundations the affection and the loyalty of a great nation.