emental, not the book.

'The corn and the cattle are all my care,
And the rest is the will of God.'

Why should such folk look up from their immemorially appointed round
of duty and interests to meddle with the unknown and fuss with
voting-papers. How would you, atop of all your interests care to conduct
even one-tenth of your life according to the manners and customs of the
Papuans, let's say? That's what it comes to."

"But if they won't take the trouble to vote, why do you anticipate that
Mohammedans, proprietors, and the rest would be crushed by majorities of
them?"

Again Pagett disregarded the closing sentence.

"Because, though the landholders would not move a finger on any purely
political question, they could be raised in dangerous excitement by
religious hatreds. Already the first note of this has been sounded by
the people who are trying to get up an agitation on the cow-killing
question, and every year there is trouble over the Mohammedan Muharrum
processions.

"But who looks after the popular rights, being thus unrepresented?"

"The Government of Her Majesty the Queen, Empress of India, in which, if
the Congress promoters are to be believed, the people have an implicit
trust; for the Congress circular, specially prepared for rustic
comprehension, says the movement is 'for the remission of tax,
the advancement of Hindustan, and the strengthening of the British
Government.' This paper is headed in large letters--

'MAY THE PROSPERITY OF THE EMPIRE OF INDIA ENDURE.'"

"Really!" said Pagett, "that shows some cleverness. But there are things
better worth imitation in our English methods of--er--political statement
than this sort of amiable fraud."

"Anyhow," resumed Orde, "you perceive that not a word is said about
elections and the elective principle, and the reticence of the Congress
promoters here shows they are wise in their generation."

"But the elective principle must triumph in the end, and the little
difficulties you seem to anticipate would give way on the introduction
of a well-balanced scheme, capable of indefinite extension."

"But is it possible to devise a scheme which, always assuming that
the people took any interest in it, without enormous expense, ruinous
dislocation of the administation and danger to the public peace, can
satisfy the aspirations of Mr. Hume and his following, and yet safeguard
the interests of the Mahommedans, the landed and wealthy classes, the
Conse