Lord Lytton (1831-1891), viceroy of India appointed in 1876, felt warmly about the Indians, and he tried to practice tolerance toward the native people while protecting supremacy of British rule. A man of unusual sensibility, he provided great insight into the revolutionary impact of British imperialism upon India in the following speech (excerpts):
· Britain has based its rule in India on justice, uprightness, progressive enlightenment and good government
· As long as these remain true, there need be no fear of disaffection on the part of Indian masses
· The bringing of many European ideals, such as religious toleration, liberty of press, personal freedom of the subject, and social supremacy of law are alien to these Indian masses, and is hardly intelligible to those who it benefits the most
· By enforcing these principles and establishing these institutions, Britain has placed itself and must permanently maintain itself at the head of a gradual revolution to westernize these people
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