New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-02-16
Religion and Trade.

importance seemed to as n demand Its pnrport
was Substantially this: The jesuit Missionaries on
come Of those islands have embarked in trade with
the natives have arranged TO dispatch vessel la
den with an assorted cargo every month from
France 10 supply the demands Of this traffic and
are selling their goods 80 low as must speedily
drive everybody else ont Of the business. Here is
certainly matter for reflection.
We are not exempt from the current prejudices
against the Jesuts, for which History, as we read
% it, affords much justification They appear 10 be a
numeroos and able body, bound together by secret
ties and animated by quenchless aud measure.
less zeal for the extension Of their Church's faith
and supremacy. Such body. so engrossed by a
single idea, will be very apt TO welcome almost
any means which. to shortsightcd human frailty
would seem calculated to promote their ends, or
rather are likely 10 consider almost any means aud-
able which give promise OF so doing. Itneeded no
Pascal TO convince as that the moral code Of such
body in 80 far as il contemplstes the means OF &C
complsbing or forthering their one great purpose,
is not likely to be distinguished for its scrupulous
nicely
Yet on the other hand do not our popular notions
OF the Jesuits, as we find them reflected in Sues
Wandering Jew and kindred works libel Human
Nature little too grossly Can we soberly be-
lieve that extensive bodies OF men animated by
feelings SO demonisc and shaping their moral
course by maxims so horrible have held TO-
getber and fourished through ages This certain
y makes a heavy draft on our credulity
Assuming the truth Of the report which impels
these remarks the popular hypothesis is obvious
enough The Jesuits it runs are bent on weaving
the tolls OF their Church around the simple minded
SouthSea Islanders. and to do this efcctualy they
TO drive out sill the present traders mainly
wholly Protestants and thus Danish any ordinary in
fuenccs Ofcivzation adverse TO their own views
plan by no means incredible. But is there not
another theory. at least a modification Of this the
DRY. which is quite reasonable. Suppose the
Jesuits having seen that the influence upon the
Natives Of Trade as hitherto carried on, is demors
Ing and pernicious; that they are thereby piled
with Liquors, Tobacco aud other incentives to
physical and mental debasement; that they are
exorbitantly charged for goods and luxuries which
they ought not to buy, and cheated of half the
value Of whatever they have TO sell-have resolved
30 engage in Trade for the sake of conforming it to
the spirit and the precepts of Christianity re.
solved To import no articles which are likely to do
the Islanders more harm than good--to sell what
they import for cost with moderate commission OF
FIVE to ten per cent added TO defray the necessary
expenses of transportation and sale, and TO buy
whatever they have TO spare at corresponding rates
land the complaint that they are selling so low
10 drive everybody else out Of the business looks
- though this were the real state of the case who
among US would blame theml That they would
by this advance the objects of their spiritual
mission is obvious enough; but could any Justly
comp lain of them for so doing
Whatever may be the motives or the precise &C
ton of the Jesuts on the premises, we cannot
doubt that this very matter of Trade sfords one
Of the most practicable avenues for commencing
the Christian Faith to the understanding and adop
zion Of natives yet lying in the dsrkne" Of
heathenism. To induce barbarous people to
listen patiently and favorably to the preaching Of
strange religion in uncouth and scarcely intelig-
bic language. by intruding strangers whose dis.
course appears AZ once tedious and bias phemous
10 surely no light matter Probably, one half the
Missionaries who have now been twenty years
commanding the Gospel TO the idolaiors Of Asia
and the South Seas have never yet been fairly
heard by huodred people each. But suppose
ChristeDdom were 10 send out her swarms of
Of apostles prepared to- storm the battlemen,s of
Pagauism through the ever-open embrssures Of
Trade, Industry and ATt--to supply the various
wants Of those TO whom they were sent to minis
Ter at the lowest possible rates yet refuse TO pan
der TO depraved or debasing sppetites on any
terms whatever-in short, should labor wisely
and indefatigsbly to Chrstianixe the Commerce.
Habits, Labor Of the People without saying any.
thing of theological dosmas, until a, length they
shoald be prepared to urge, These improvements
in your circumstances relations and daily life are
fruits Of the Faith we cherish Win you not
hesz whs, that Faith is who can seriously
doubt that thousands would be converted where
hundreds are not by the different course usually
pursued.
We have no; overlooked the danger that the
Missionaries might be converted 70 Trade before
the Heather were TO Christianity, so as ultimately
% give coan,ensnoe by their dealings to the grave
Turks habisla admonition to bis boys; Nv sons,
let me never hear that you base enough cheat
and lie like Chrssisnr-but as they would have
no interest in the goods they nigh, sell being bat
temptation would be far weaker tLan in ordinary
traffic Aud let but the missionaries continue pure,
while establishing and maintaining wherever need
cd College OF Industry and Useful Arts with a
depot for Exchanges o, goods on strictly Christian
principles thence supply frs, the primary ants
OF the bsrbarians and then teaching them to
supply their own. and we are confident that the
heather within the radius OF influence of such a
Mission wonld be converted en- naSse within lite
time. At all events. we trust the experiment will
ere long De tried, and we hail the account Of Je
sal; doiags in the South Seas as favorable omen
~ \ meeting Of the members Of the Legisla.
Iuro was held a, Ito Assembly Chamber in Albany on
Saturday evening. to see what they could do for Ire
.nd speaker BAsssorcx presided. and speeches
we're made By several members. Committees were sp.
pointed to receive and disburse contributions from
members and Others and to attend to the purchase and
rsnsmission Of provisions