The question in Burke's time was whether oppression and corruption were to continue to be the guiding maxims of English policy.

The personal disinterestedness of the ruler who had been the chief founder of this policy, and had most openly set aside all pretence of righteous principle, was dust in the balance.

It was impossible to suppress the policy without striking a deadly blow at its most eminent and powerful instrument.

That Hastings was acquitted, was immaterial.

The lesson of his impeachment had been taught with sufficiently impressive force--the great lesson that Asiatics have rights, and that Europeans have obligations; that a superior race is bound to observe the highest current morality of the time in all its dealings with the subject race.