For example, Lord Curzon has told us that our connection with India "is still in its youth, and has in it the vitality of an unexhausted purpose." And he has added that, "I believe that we have it in our power to weld the people of India to a unity greater than they have hitherto dreamed of." Let us endeavour to frame a rational conception of this "larger vision and fuller hope," and look ahead.
If we do so, it must seem very obvious that the next matter to which India will address herself is her position in the world and the nature of her freedom. She will not be satisfied with prosperity, with a commercial system, with social amelioration, or even with legislative councils. She has never had a place in the sun, politically, for even the rulership of the Moghuls was not of international significance. Before our coming she was either a mere arena for despots, or a mere running track for barbarians. She was dead or sleeping. But the sleeper will wake. The corpse of the Indian body politic will spring to its feet.
When that time comes, as it will undoubtedly, we shall have to remember the great words of Lord Beaconsfield, uttered originally with reference to India. "Touch and satisfy the imagination of nations," he said, "for that is an element which no government can despise." Thus, security and splendour are the two imperial elements. For India's sake, and for our own, it is our future to combine them.
