The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

818

the conqueror has the right to impose his own
terms upon the conquered. It amazes us at
their stupidity, to hear statesmen, who advocate
" neutrality," contending, at one and the same
time, for the introduction of European science
and for the exclusion of European religion. Our
science, by their own ohowing, is just as much
inimical to Hindooisna as our religion : if then we
introduce the one, in the name pf Reason why
not, under the same conditions, introduce the
other ? It will be answered, perhwe, that the
Hindoos and the Maliomedans are opposed to our
religion, and not to our science. 'fp the Chris-
tian religion, as the Christian religion, they may
be opposed, but would they be opposed to it if •
we taught it simply as a science, by making the
Bible a regular school-book? That the people of
India generally would, there never yet has been
produced any proof. The testimony of all those
who have had to do with schools in India is the
other way.
To the work of establishing and aiding schools,
then, the Government might very safely direct
its efforts. We do not plead now for a Church
Establishment—the time for that has not yet
come—beyond the gradually adding to that
which is already in the country, as it grows in
extent, either from the addition of converts, or of
resident English people. Let the Church of
England carry on the work independently, under
the protection, but without the active assistance,
of the State. This is all we ask at present.
There is one argument in favour of this course,
taken as a whole, which, to our minds, has reat
weight. Christianity has been confided to Eng-
land's imperial mission. True religion, it may
be assumed, is the final purpose of society ; and if
this be so, it may equally he assumed that no
State can stand that has not the essential elements
of true religion for its basis. Practically, indeed,
this is found to be the security of States. Man is a
religious animal ; he cannot exist socially without
sonic faith; and if you undermine even his false
faith by an infidel 'system of instruction (which
is what has been done hitherto in India), and
give him no other religion in its place, you con-
vert him into a fiend instead of a man. To quote
the words of the witty SOUTH, " lle who will
"fight the devil with his own weapons must not
"wonder if he finds himself overmatched." We
have been overmatched in this way in India.
And we shall prove ourselves most thorough
fools, if the same kind of policy is to be followed,
and we learn nothing from our own folly. Gop
in his providence has swept away, in the north-
west provinces of India at least, with the native
dynasties, the gigantic fabric of the native
superstitions, so far as our obligation to uphold
them was concerned. By the revolt of their native
sovereigns He has freed us from our treaties with
them. Is it to be supposed that lie has swept
these away only that we may re-erect the very
same system ? There is intense moral absurdity
involved in the supposition. Ilis own Provi-
dence plainly points out our future duty. If
now we show that we have confidence in our
own religion, the natives will have confidence in
it too ; but we shall never induce their belief in
it by exhibiting our own want of faith. To
govern India henceforth as Christian men, and
with Christian objects, ought to be our unhesi-
tating purpose; nor ought we to rest content till
Christianity has established itself as the religion
of our whole Indian empire.
How far there may be obstacles in existing
treaties to the breaking off at once of Government
support to native temples in some provinces, or to
their taking direct steps to diffuse sound instruc-
tion among the people, we pretend not to
know. But we would suggest that there can be
no such obstacles now in some of the north-west
provinces of India; and if the Government are
afraid to attempt a better system on a large
scale, let them experiment it on a smaller, in
some one of those north-west provinces—say
Delhi—and keep such a strong military force
there as will effectually awe down any emeute.
One trial like this may solve the whole question,
and prove that our fears have no foundation.
It is not for us, however, to advise what mea-
sures shall be taken: We can only express our
regret that such doubtful sentiments as those that
fell froth Lord STANLEY, the first Secretary of
State for India, should have been uttered to a
Deputation who waited upon him lately to learn
what were his views and intentions in respect to
Christianity, in connection with the future go-
vernment of India. Ile laid it down that "no