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British Rule in India

About This Item

  • Title: British Rule in India
  • Date: 6 August 1857
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: per.01024
  • Source: Brooklyn Daily Times, 6 August 1857: 2. Our transcription is based on a digital image of a microfilm scan of the original issue. Microfilm of original issue held at Pennsylvania State University Libraries. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the journalism, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Editorial note: This piece is unsigned, as was the case for most of Whitman's journalism. However, this editorial is part of a series of texts that deal with a coherent theme that has been identified by the Whitman Archive journalism team as likely authored by Whitman. This decision is based on a combination of historical and (auto)biographical accounts, similarity to contemporary Whitman writings, a history of scholarly attribution, extant clippings retained by Whitman, computational stylometric analysis, and, in some cases, manuscript evidence in Whitman’s hand.
  • Contributors to digital file: Kaylen Michaelis Kevin McMullen Karie Cobb
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "British Rule in India." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 16 July 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: per.01024.xml (TEI)
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BRITISH RULE IN INDIA.

No political question which now hangs in the balance compares in importance with this—whether British rule in India is about to be terminated, except so far as relates to the sea coast towns, or not. Napoleon the Great was right when he said that Europe must become either Republican or Cossack; if England can hold India and retain her present position among nations, the former, if she lose India, the latter, may probably result. It has been the aim of Russia for years to weaken British power in India; and the loss of that vast territory to Britain would be an infinite gain to the Muscovites, who would lose no time in making a fast alliance with the Hindoo nations. But we do not believe that the inhabitants of India are capable of self-government, and in consequence they are most likely incapable of obtaining freedom. We infer from all that we can gather on the subject, that British supremacy will be maintained, though only with a vast cost and effort.

The English have not governed India as they ought. They have sought merely to make money and draw revenues from the country, without consulting the happiness of the people. And if they lose that vast territory, the verdict of the world will be, “served ‘em right.” Their rule has been only less severe and tyrannical than that of the native princes. If the danger to which they are now exposed, of losing their dominions, shall have the effect of teaching them to govern more equitably and leniently for the future, philanthropists will have reason to be gratified that the revolt has taken place.

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