For as long as a system prevails which regards the transmission of great wealth to this country, either for the Company or the state, as its principal end, so long will it be impossible that those who are the instruments of that scheme should not be actuated by the same spirit for their own private purposes.
Edmund Burke: “For as long as a system prevails which regards the transmission of great wealth to this country, either for the Company…”
Editor's note · Context
Burke critiques the corrupt motivations behind the wealth transfer from India to Britain, suggesting it leads to self-serving behavior among officials.
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I would not exclude alteration neither; but even when I changed, it should be to preserve.
Not being illuminated with the light of which the gentlemen of France tell us they have got so abundant a share, they acted under a strong impression of the ignorance and fallibility of mankind.
Let us imitate their caution, if we wish to deserve their fortune or to retain their bequests.
I think our happy situation owing to our Constitution,--but owing to the whole of it, and not to any part singly,--owing in a great measure to what we have left standing in our several reviews and reformations, as well as to what we have…





