. Review of reviews and world's work. am ahuX that ourfinances in India have placed us in the position to j^ivethe people the first reduction of taxation that theyhave enjoyed in twenty years. We have endeavored torender the land revenue more equable in its incidence,to lift the loiwl of usury from the shoulders of thepeasant, and to check that reckless alienation of the soilwhich in many parts of the country was fast convertinghim from a free proprietor t<i a bond-slave. We havedone our best to encourage industries which, little bylittle, will relieve the field of agriculture,de
. Review of reviews and world's work. am ahuX that ourfinances in India have placed us in the position to j^ivethe people the first reduction of taxation that theyhave enjoyed in twenty years. We have endeavored torender the land revenue more equable in its incidence,to lift the loiwl of usury from the shoulders of thepeasant, and to check that reckless alienation of the soilwhich in many parts of the country was fast convertinghim from a free proprietor t<i a bond-slave. We havedone our best to encourage industries which, little bylittle, will relieve the field of agriculture,develop the indigenous resources of India, and makethat country more and more self-providing in thefuture. After a review of Indias strategic importanceto the British Empire, and of the vast difficulties and responsibilities of her administration. LordCurzon sums up the destiny of Britain in Indiain these prophetic words : It is seventeen years since I first visited India ; it isfourteen years since I first had the honor of being coii-. ) CfltZON. (Viceroy of Iiidiu.) nected with its administration. India was the firstlove, and throughout all that time it has been the mainlove, of my political life. I have given it .some of mybest years. Perhaps I may be privileged to give it yet 94 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY REVIEW OF RE^IEIVS. more. But no man could do this unless he saw beforeIndia a larger vision or were himself inspired with afuller hope. If our empire were to end to-morrow, I donot think we need be ashamed of its epitaph. It wouldhave done its duty by India and justified its mission tomankind. But it is not going to end. It is not a mori-bund organism. It is still in its youth, and has in it theunexhausted purpose. I am not with the pessimists inthis matter. I am not one of those who think that wehave built a mere fragile plank between the East andWest which the roaring tides of Asia will presentlysweep away. I do not think our work is over or that itis drawing to an end. On
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