The Press. — London, England, 1858-10-02 00:00:00

THE PRESS, on the mode in which it is worked, and none who witnessed the ability with which Lord STAN I.EY conducted the measure in its final stages through Parliament, or have marked the fairness and discrimina tion which have characterized the subsequent appointments to the Council, can refuse to acknowledge that the administration of Indian affairs can hardly be in better and safer hands than those of will to the p nd to resent Secretary. The address to which we now draw attention confirm the favourable impressions so generally entertained of Lord STANLEY'S eminent fitness for his difficult and responsible post. It is not only in his correct appreciation of the difficulties and dangers likely to arise in this country from the working of the new system, that the young Secretary for India evinces his perfect comprehension of the true relative position of England and her great Dependency. his remarks upon the effects likely to be produced in India by those mistaken efforts to do good which have been in sonic quarters so inconsideratel y urged on Govern ment, are by no means the least statesmanlike portion of his address. These observations are so well expressed they are so highly deserving of attention in themselves—so doubly deserving of attention as coming from the Indian Minister—that it would be unpardonable not to give them all the prominence in our power. Lord STANLEY, after expressing what we trust is a well-grounded hope that the exasperation of feeling which prevailed in this country against the natives of India is in course of gradual extinction with the cause to which it owed its origin, proceeded in the following strain of wise and elevated libe rality I think, however, we should remember that it is not only from ill-will or ill feelings on our part, but also from uninformed and mis directed efforts for doing good, that our influence and government in India have been exposed to danger. We do, I believe, regard—and undoubtedly we ought to regard—the natives of India as persons towards whom it is our duty to feel good will, and for whose welfare it is our duty to labour ; but that is not enough. It is not enough to regard them as objects upon whom our benevolence may be exercised, or as persons upon whom it is in our power to operate important changes for good. We must look upon them also as men with whom, and not against whom, we have to work — as men with feelings of their own—as men who, although politically sub ject to us, have a sense of their own rights, and a respect for their own independence-3nd as men who will be apt to be all the more tenacious of their intellectual independence and national customs because of the political abjection in which they are held. There can be no doubt that the position conquering and governing race confers many advantages as regards Ifluence which may be exercised over a conquered people ; but that carries with it this disadvantage—that a conquering race almost • displays a certain sense of superiority—a certain arrogance, if too harsh a word to use—a certain disregard of the feelings of which, not being placed under such circumstances, it is hardly •us to understand. I do not hesitate to say that, unless we . proper bounds our feelings of national superiority, unless we carefully, and even jealously to respect the feelings, and even prejudices of those , with whom we have to deal—above all, if we introduce the force and influence of Government into that ought to matter of private conviction between man and his own :nee, or if we arc even suspected, upon plausible grounds, of attempt intending it, our endeavours at improvement will be thrown back as insults, and we shall end by doing more harm than good: These sentiments of a true statesman and an enlightened Christian. It grounds a matter of public congratulation that the Minister to intrusted the task of inaugurating the new system of Indian go should have had the statesinanli l ce boldness, explicitly to insist duty of respecting not only the feelings but even the prejudices .4e whom it is our high destiny to rule, and to utter a solemn warn against any attempt 'to introduce the force and influence of Govern - that which ought to be matter of private conviction between his own conscience." two speeches lately delivered by Rajah BitooKF., and the letter of itelligent Ilindoo," published in Tuesday's Times, throw some light on the religious aspects of Hindooism and. Mahomedanism.l indoo seems to be very much of GOLDSMITH'S opinion—that as a ' his coat from his tailor, so he should take his religion from the What the religion may be he does not care very much. He finds established clergy, and he accepts the creed which they propound to is tolerant, because he is in one sense of the word indifferent. in one sense of the word, because it is quite possible for a man inalienably attached to his own opinions or practices without having of the propagandist about him. We see it every day in ordi social matters. Nothing perhaps would induce Lord LANSDOWNE to the well-known garb which he has worn near half a century ; but never heard of his asking Lord BuouottAn to put it on too. vegetarians, and many other quiet and peaceable indi are in exactly the same state of mind. And such, it, is something like the condition of this intelligent of the Brahmins, and a large portion of his countrymen of whom type. He has his religion, and you have yours. Yours may be newer fashion, and perhaps a better one ; but still be is used to his suits him exactly, and, whatever his great-grandchildren may about the matter, he doesn't mean to change himself. If we persuade such a man of the Divinity of our Saviour, it appears that should have made no advance towards his conversion. His mythology of such ready contraction or expansion that he would be little by the discovery. We believe that this languid faith is more to be shaken than any other. It is, indeed, rather a faith in than a languid faith. A man who has gone on so long in a which propounds no more distinct principle of action than Hin- ER 2, ,58. 957 dooism, has probably lost that moral faculty to which "principle" appeals. Herein lies our difficulty with the llindoo. With the 11Iahomedan, we learn from ltajah BnooKF., the case is different. Zeal on our part merely has the effect of awakening a corresponding zeal on his part. Like the rival families of the Lambs and the Trotters, if the ladies of the one household sported two feathers in their bonnets, the others immediately hoisted three and " twice as fine." So, as long as the Christians of Borneo were unable to build a church, the Mahomedan appeared indifferent to his religious observances. But the moment the Christians built one church, mosques sprung up in every direction. Where the Christian said his prayers once the Mahomedan did it five times. The sound of the Christian church bells immediately awakened the rival tones of the Mahomedan drum. Here, however, there is certainly more reason to be sanguine than in the other case. If we can rouse our enemy to a contest we may possibly convince him. Nothing is so hopeless as the antagonist who listens placidly to all you have to say, and then when you have done turns away with a polite bow, and makes a remark upon the weather to his next neighbour. How far—to return to the Hindoo—it may be right to believe that the mutiny of the sepoy regiments was unconnected with any fears for their religion we do not feel quite certain. That no such feelings may have existed among the more cultivated Hindoos may possibly be true; but we must suspend our judg ment for awhile in the case of the poorer and more ignorant classes. In conclusion, we would remind all persons who have the propagation of Christianity really at heart of the mission which has now brought. Sir JAMES BROOKE to this country, and what great interests arc at stake in the preservation of the settlement at Sarawak. " There is nothing like leather," and accordingly Professor OWEN has been delivering us a soaring panegyric on the expediency of promoting the study of natural science. Not that we do not most fully appreciate the truth and the importance of all that the Professor brought forward ; but we cannot disguise from ourselves that the ;Go ; of the German Univer sities is not one that we care to see prevalent in England. Such, however, is not, perhaps, the most prominent reflection suggested by Professor OwEx's remarks; but it is that with regard to " scientific travellers" the Professor, as is the wont with his class, takes too little account of the actual capabilities of human beings. The man who has at the same time what is called " a head" fir science and a body fit to undergo hardships is one in ten thousand. Even where they co-exist, it too often happens that the zealous prosecution of the one will impair the natural vigour of the other. It is very right and proper that Englishmen should be kept up to the mark in this as in everything else. But when we are reminded, as we arc by Sir Jolts llEitsotEt. on the same occasion, that "other nations are " making great advances in science and learning, and that it is our duty " not to be outstripped," we cannot help remembering how often we have been told so before, and asking ourselves the question how far the position of England among nations at the present day justifies any queru lousness on this head. It is in our opinion precisely to that habit of " clear and profound thought " which the Professor admitted to be the fruit of the Oxford system, that the superiority of the English upper classes is to be attributed. No knowledge of science could compensate for the absence of that. The work of our Universities, as was well said, is "to make men," rather than scholars or philosophers; an d we shall be sorr y for the day I whenever this saying about them can with justice he reversed. The examination which is now proceeding at Weedon is eliciting some curious results in evidence, of which the report will be found else where. In accordance with the recommendation of the Commissioner?, we suspend our comments on the actual case until the inquiry is com pleted. But we cannot refrain from observing generally that the con flicting statements delivered by different witnesses point unmistakeably to the existence of wrong-doing somewhere, which it is desirable to con ceal. But whether it is the lower or higher class of servants who are in reality to blame yet remains to be determined. All the boot contractors complained of the capriciousness of the inspections, and one of them said he was so " startled" at the rejection of one-fifth of the boots he had sent in that he went down to Weedon to remonstrate, and they were all taken back again. What a system ! Sett cecidit postquMu cerdonibus esse tiny utlus Cteperat is what we trust we may soon be able to say of it. d•)ft g - - It is stated in a letter in the Times that it is the intention of certain of the respectable inhabitants of St. James's to petition at the ensuing Clerkenwell Sessions for the reopening of the Casino in Windmill-street. The results which it is stated will be brought forward in support of this application are such as we never for a m iment doubted would ensue. The frequenters of that establishment would pass their evenings somewhere away from their own abodes—that might have been considered a cer tainty—and if one Casino were closed, they would either go to another or parade the public streets instead ; and if driven from the latter, they would still find some means of insuring themselves their ordinary nightly dissipation. The attempt to stop prostitution by shutting up this kind of place, is like fancying we improve the health by artificially clearing the complexion. We would not be misunderstood. We totally disapprove of the idea of reopening these rooms ; but the simple fact that the original petitioners against them were unprepared for the consequences which they no w lament is pretty good evidence of their unfitu*i s to deal witiv the great Social Evil," - :- . • ject to us, na independence their intellect subjection in . ' of a conquen the influence position carri inevitably di! tbat be not t others, whic possible for t keep within remember ca the prejudic attempt to which ought conscience, c ing or intent in our face as are the sent is on all gra whom is int! vernment sl upon the du of those wh( ing against meat into tl man and hi! The tm the " Intel curious ligl The Hind( man takes priest. W an establisl him. He We say in to be inalii a particle nary socia leave off tl we never Quakers, viduals s we take disciple of he is a tyi of a newe own. It think abc could per we should admits of affected difficult t angour tl religion