Indian Independence
Italy, the English power could not even make the resistance that was made in Italy by Austria, but must succumb at once. For what means can England have, which is not a military state, of resisting the rebellion of two hundred and fifty millions of subjects? Do you say, as we conquered them before, we could conquer them again? But I explained that we did not conquer them. I showed you that of the army which won our victories, four-fifths consisted of native troops. That we were able to hire these native troops for service in India, was due to the fact that the feeling of nationality had no existence there.”
So far Sir John Seeley has made clear the point (which has often been emphasised since) that England did not conquer India, but only holds sway in India on account of India's acquiescence. Mark then, very carefully what follows. Sir John Seeley continues: “Now if the feeling of a common nationality began to exist there only feebly, if without inspiring any active desire to drive out the
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