...Under a twofold governing system, such as that of which I
have now completed the description—namely, an administration in which every
actor is, in different aspects, both the briber and the bribed; and a judicial
procedure, without either a law or a law court—it will readily be understood
that confidence in the Government is not likely to exist, that there is no personal
sense of duty or pride of honour, no mutual trust or co-operation (except in
the service of ill-doing), no disgrace in exposure, no credit in virtue, above
all no national spirit or patriotism. Those philosophers are right who argue
that moral must precede material, and internal exterior, reform in Persia. It
is useless to graft new shoots on to a stem whose own sap is exhausted or
poisoned. We may give Persia roads and railroads; we may work her mines and
exploit her resources; we may drill her army and clothe her artisans; but we
shall not have brought her within the pale of civilised nations until we have
got at the core of the people, and given a new and a radical twist to the
national character and institutions. I have drawn this picture of Persian
administration, which I believe to be true, in order that English readers may
understand the system with which reformers, whether foreigners or natives, have
to contend, and the iron wall of resistance, built up by all the most selfish
instincts in human nature, that is opposed to progressive ideas. The Sháh
himself, however genuine his desire for innovation, is to some extent enlisted
on the side of this pernicious system, seeing that he owes to it his private
fortune; while those who most loudly condemn it in private are not behind their
fellows in outwardly bowing their heads in the temple of Rimmon. In every rank
below the sovereign, the initiative is utterly wanting to start a rebellion
against the tyranny of immemorial custom; and if a strong man like the present
king can only tentatively undertake it, where is he who shall preach the
crusade?
- Lord Curzon (Extract from
“Persia and the Persian Question”, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in the Introduction
to the Dawn-Breakers)
