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 pnd 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 statesinanlilce 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; and we shall be sorry 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
now lament is pretty good evidence of their unfitu*is
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

958

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION

Cbc Press:

(STAMPED)

Per Annum ..
Halt Yearly..
Quarterly ..

.. £1 6 0

.. 0 13 0
.. 6 6 6