1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 273
2 be ‘no. other candidate who wishes to dispossess
3 him. Still a weak government will ever have
4 secret enemies, and when its head requires the
5 assistance of a foreign power, it is impossible for
6 him to secure the esteem or firm adherence of his
7 subjects. :
8 It may be a point for consideration, whether the 1, the country
9 Punjab be worth annexing to the British territories, "oy" sex"
10 At first, the expense of securing it would probably
11 more than counterbalance the revenual advantages
12 accruing from the possession ; but the affair is not
13 entirely one of profit and loss. Here is a large
14 and populous nation without any efficient govern-
15 ment. If the support of the British{be withdrawn,
16 the return to anarchy and misrule is certain, and
17 we must either allow the contending powers to settle
18 matters by a civil war, or seize at once the country
19 and bring it under British rule; or suffer some
20 other contiguous power to interfere for its settle-
21 ment. . This last alternative cannot, on broad. and The British
22 obvious political grounds, be permitted. The pared foe auch
23 © . : . an event,
24 complete annexation of the Punjab will, therefore,
25 sooner or later be forced on us, and though attended
26 by great outlay, the rich tracts of country might,
27 under careful British rule and management, even-
28 tually be made to yield a rich return, Let us
29 then be prepared for the emergency. No means
30 must be overlooked for curbing the disorderly and
31 treacherous spirit of the Sikhs ; by; force, and force
32 alone, can this be accomplished, and in adopting
33 VOL. UL r