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of the masses than their educated countrymen. And he went on to add that it was true in all ages that 'those who think must govern those who toil; and could it be' he asked, 'that the natural order of things was reversed in this unfortunate country?' This claim is now practically admitted; and I need not waste words to justify it. But in those days it was still a matter of controversy, and the vigorous pleading of so eminent a man as Sir Romesh Chunder Mitter, who showed no partisan bias even in the advocacy of public interests, was necessary and useful. The trouble now, however, is of a different kind. The Indian public man, in the exuberance of his love for his own views, is apt to mistake his own opinion for that of the country, and his voice for the trumpet-organ of the masses. He too frequently talks of the country, all the while meaning himself and nobody else.

The year 1896 witnessed a further development in the Congress movement. Coming events cast their shadows before, and the industrial upheaval that was soon to find expression in the Swadeshi movement was heralded by a new departure for which the Congress was indebted to the foresight and organizing capacity of Mr. J. Chaudhuri. Mr. J. Chaudhuri may be regarded as the pioneer of the industrial movement in Bengal. He suggested (and I cordially supported his recommendation) that there should be an Industrial Exhibition in connexion with the Congress. The idea was started somewhat late, but we decided to give effect to it; and we did our best in the circumstances and with the resources at our disposal. We appealed to the Government for help, and I personally requested the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Woodburn, to open the exhibi- tion. I represented to him that it was a purely industrial movement, that an Englishman like Mr. Woodroffe, Advocate-General, had joined it, and that the Government might lend it their moral support by His Honour's opening the Exhibition. Such was the official attitude with regard to the Congress movement in those days that Sir John Woodburn did not see his way to complying with our request. He said, 'Mr. Banerjea, after all, your Exhibition is an annexe of the Congress. The political flavour is strong in it. I am sorry I cannot undertake to open your Exhibition.' The function was performed by the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar in a neat little speech.

Ten years later, when the Congress was held in Calcutta, an exhibition, also an annexe of the Congress, and organized on a much larger scale, was opened by Lord Minto, then Viceroy.