Rulers Of India Ranjit Singh

Griffin Lepel Sir · 1916 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1INTRODUCTORY

2II

3to embody the spirit and glory of the country- But

4the glamour is personal to the man and does not

5transfigure his heirs and successors. Then, the throne

6founded by genius is seen to be a poor, tawdry thing,

7on the steps of which stand a crowd of greedy,

8unscrupulous parasites, who have no thought but of

9enriching themselves at the expense of the people.

10Discipline and obedience give place to conspiracy and

11revolt ; enthusiasm is succeeded by contempt ; till,

12ere long, the mushroom dynasty is extinguished

13amidst the laughter of those who applauded its birth.

14As it was with Napoleon and the Second Empire, so

15was it with Ranjit Singh and his son Kharak Singh

16and the bastards who quarrelled over the inheritance

17of the Lion of the Punjab.

18Far different is the fate of august and ancient

19dynasties whose hereditary dignities have descended

20in an unbroken line through many generations.

21These fall, it is true, by the vices and recklessness of

22their representatives, as history has often shown.

23But how many chances are in their favour, and how

24criminal is the weakness and how abject the folly

25which alienate the easily retained affection of a

26nation I Whatever may be said of the divine right of

27kiogs, it would seem that the stars in their courses

28jSght on their behalf; that something of divinity

29hedges them about ; they are the object of a respect

30and love which is worth more to them than armies

31in battle array ; the immemorial sentiment of man-

32kind demanding a master, the weakness of humanity