Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-08-28
4flistrllnnrous Artlrlrs.
From the London Times
The Results and Prospects Of Mis-
sionary Labors in India,


the sincerity, the energy, and the occa-
casional ability of The men who devote
their lives to retaining those distant
millions from idolatry and barbarism.-
Nor are the results valueless. If the mis-
sionaries do not effect what they desire,
they yet produce good which they never
meditated. Earnestness, self denial, and .
a strong philanthropical impulse cannot
fail in acting in some way on mankind
So much energy and confidence could
hardly be lost. If the missionaries make
few converts, they yet act on the great
mass Of the natives by mixing with them,
educating them, and instilling into their
minds the first rudiments Of European
knowledge. So far, then, the Govern
ment of India may well give to mission
ary exertions all the encouragement which
is involved in free permission to preach
and teach. Analogous is the case Of our
phianthropists at home.
Since the days when orators became
famous by their invectives on Warren
Hastings we have never wanted men to
take under their protection every kind of
native sufferer Whether it be the fami-
" of dethroned Prince, or the Prince
himself, or a people which has fallen
under our dominion, a people which has
revolted, or a race of savages at war with
us. there is sure to be a motion in Parlla-
ment or an agitation out of doors to re-
dress their wrongs and denounce British
aggression. We have no wish that it
should be otherwise. The strength and
solidity of British rule are founded on the
general Justice with which dependent
races have been treated and it is by no
means a disadvantage that a band OF
over-scrupulous critics should exist ready
to question any act Of our generals OF
Governors which might in the least savol
OF tyranny. But, while granting to mis-
sionaries and to their allies at home full
liberty Of action and comment, we mus
protest against making their influences
part ofthe machine of Government. Tn,
Ministry had, we think, no choice Oh
Thursday evening but to oppose the reso
lutions by which Mr.. Kinnaird proposed
to cenSure tE,s whole administration o
Bengal on Ire authority Of certain zeal
Gus and well-meaning, but evidently i'm
prudent petitioners.
The state of the Bengal peasantry il
no doubt, most unhappy. For hundre
years they have been under the authorit
of the East India Company, and it cannc
be said that they have advanced in ente.
prise or independence during that tim
1t may well be believed that what the
were in the days of Give, they are now
nay, that in the present age they are eve
more helpless than of yore. The sol
fabric of British power weighs on theI
but does not shelter them. Towards Il
close of the last century the GOyerme
of Lord CORVALLIS, unable to understal
any relation in the occupation Of land e
cept that of landlord and tenant, esta
lished the present Zemindaree syste
which gives to the Zemindar a pow
over the cultivators of the soil which b
been too often used for the purpose
tyranny and extortion. The Bengale
himself is made by nature for submissiC
and, whether it be to a Mussulman,
Christian, or native master, he vie
in helpless servitude. As is also gen
ally the case, the worst Oppressors are
be found among his own people, and tn,
are every where, while the presence
Europeans is confined to few lOcalit
almost beyond the reach Of his complain
A small band of English hold this or
country of 100000 or 5O,000,O00
'0. people, and few magistrates admins
justice to its dense population. H
much ignorance, inexperience, and natu
incapacity may add to the evils caused
the smallness of their numbers may
easily conceived. The police are il
win ficient and corrupt, bribery and false {
dence abound in their courts, Cypress
and extortiOn are continually practi
with impunity. The testimony of tn
things is too constant to admit of do
that it is founded in truth.
Why, then, should not missionaries
proclaim these evils and demand an
anu Quiry ? Simply, we would say, beca
the evils are known and require no
-. quiry, and that the remedies indicated
! :. the missionaries are by no means as
-; tective as those which the government
at last engaged in applying. The DEF
in the administration of justice and
,;nc system of police evidently arise from
Government of q vast country being thr