| caption: |
lack of ruling class; British support for present Raja |
| text: |
Whilst the advantage of immunity from foreign aggression has been fully appreciated, the benefits derived from internal peace have not been so fully acknowledged. There being no upper class, or families possessing a preponderating influence, all Munniporees are upon a par, and every one thinks himself as fit as another for any office however high. The advantages accruing from the possession of office, I have before shown; and as office alone confers rank, its attainment is the chief ambition of the people. If not to be gained by fair means, the aspirant shrinks not from contemplating revolution for its attainment. In every male member of the Royal family, no matter how distant he may be from the reigning branch of it, they see a means of one day perhaps accomplishing their ends. Hence, numerous as they are, the great respect with which they treat their princes, and the frequent revolutions from which the country has suffered so much. With the view of putting a stop to these calamities, the resolution I have before mentioned to support the present Raja, was come to by the British Government. If the Raja enjoys a long reign, the advantage of a long period of internal peace may be noticed by the people, and the desire to secure this advantage may after his death deter them from hastily entering on projects of revolution, but without a change in the institutions of the country, revolutions- unless restrained by the British Government - will I fear be always imminent. |
