of her acceptance, and the means at her disposal are fully sufficient for its discharge.  Nor will her refusal, if she refuse, be without grave and immediate danger.  The Mohammedan world is roused as it has never been in its history to a sense of its political and moral dangers, and is looking round on all sides for a leader of whatsoever name or nation to espouse its cause.  We can hardly doubt that the position of directing so vast a force, if abandoned by England, will be claimed by some more resolute neighbour.

The British Empire in Asia is cause of envy to the world at large, and its prosperity has many enemies, who will certainly make the distress of Islam an engine in their hands against it.  Neglected by the power which they hold bound to protect their interest, the Mussulmans of India will certainly become its bitterest enemies, and though they may not immediately be able to give effect to their hostility, the day of embarrassment for us can hardly fail to come, and with it their opportunity.  At best the enmity of Islam will make the dream of reconciling the Indian populations to our rule for ever an impossibility.  Leaders they will look for elsewhere—­in Russia, maybe, in Germany, or even France, jealous of our interests in Egypt—­not leaders such as we might have been for their good, but for our evil, and in pursuance of their own designs.  The Caliphate is a weapon forged for any hand—­for Russia’s at Bagdad, for France’s at Damascus, or for Holland’s (call it one day Germany’s) in our stead at Mecca.  Protected by any of these nations the Caliphate might make our position intolerable in India, filling up for us the measure of Mussulman bitterness, of which we already are having a foretaste in the Pan-islamic intrigues at Constantinople.

But enough of this line of reasoning, which after all is selfish and unworthy.  The main point is, that England should fulfil the trust she has accepted of developing, not destroying, the existing elements of good in Asia.  She cannot destroy Islam, nor dissolve her own connection with her.  Therefore, in God’s name, let her take Islam by the hand and encourage her boldly in the path of virtue.  This is the only worthy course, and the only wise one, wiser and worthier, I venture to assert, than a whole century of crusade.

In conclusion, I would say to Mohammedans that if I have drawn a gloomy picture of their immediate political fortunes, it is not that I despair even of these.  Their day of empire in the world seems over, but their day of self-rule may well dawn again, though under changed conditions from any we now witness.  I foresee for them the spiritual inheritance of Africa and Southern Asia, and as the intelligence of the races they convert shall have risen to the level of their present rulers, and Europe, weary of her work, shall have abandoned the task of Asiatic and African government, the temporal inheritance too.  How long this shall be delayed we know not.  Their prophet has foretold